8 x 10 inch glossy silver gelatin photograph of the great pianist at the keyboard, signed and inscribed in Spanish to Maria Echániz, wife of the pianist José Echániz: "Para la Senorita Maria Echaniz / con mucha simpatia - Arturo Rubinstein / 24 Febrero 1959" ["To the Senorita Maria Echaniz with much sympathy / Arthur Rubinstein / 24 February 1959"] In fine condition. Read More...
Original flyer and program from a 1934 recital of the great pianist in Haifa, Israel. The flyer, in bold Hebrew and English type, advertises the recital on April 11 in Haifa's Maccabee Hall. Rubinstein's ambitious program included works by Bach-Busoni, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Scriabin, and Stravinsky. The program, in English and Hebrew, features a half-tone photograph of Rubinstein on the Hebrew cover. Hole-punched, with some light folding creases and wear; flyer with heavy toning; overall in very good condition. Flyer 9.5 x 6.25 inches (24.4 x 15.8 cm); program, 4 pp., 5 x 9 inches (12.4 x 23.2 cm).
Autograph letter from the important Spanish violinist and composer to a close acquaintance, giving his opinion on a singer and dealing with financial matters. Strasbourg, March 7, [18]78. Translated from the French: "I know Ernst, and I think he knows enough French to sing in that language. In great haste, let me announce that you will receive 20,000 marks (24,000 francs) in a few days, which I will be very grateful if you could invest for me. Thank you again, you will have earned your place in heaven. As for the 100 francs in change which you have of mine, you will do me a favor if you could send them to Doria Francisca Sarasate, Puerta del Sol No. 9-2 Izda. You don't know my little sister, she is my favorite, very intelligent and nice. Faithfully yours, Pablito. Ernst sang with me during the Cologne festival, and at my concert at the Berlin Opera. He is a kind of German Chérie." 2 pp. on a bifolium. Folding creases and light toning; overall in fine condition. 5 x 8 inches (12.6 x 20 cm).
Mounted halftone photograph of the English classical pianist, remembered for her refined technique and impeccable playing. She has signed on the mount below the image and dated August 1936. Mounted on a small black album leaf, with a caption in another hand. Light overall foxing and toning, otherwise in very good condition. 4.25 x 6.5 inches (10.6 x 16.5 cm).
Rare autograph musical quotation from the important Polish pianist and composer, who has penned the first two measures of the theme from his Chant d'amour (op. 26, no. 3). Signed and dated May 10, 1931. On a small piece of cardboard, with one large loss to the upper right corner, some light smudging and soiling; overall in very good condition. 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.4 x 8.8 cm). Read More...
Halftone photograph of the great Hungarian violinist, signed at the right and dated (apparently in another hand) 1936. Clipped from a program and mounted on black card. One vertical crease; slightly irregularly trimmed; overall in very good condition. Please note that the image appears much less pixelated in person than it does in our high resolution scan! 4 x 5 inches (10.5 x 12.5 cm). Read More...
Clipped autograph signature from the highly important English violist, dedicatee of works by Bax, Bridge, Holst and Walton. Light foxing and mounting remnants on verso; overall in fine condition. 3 x 1.25 inches (8 x 3.2 cm).
Signed postcard photograph of the great prodigy violinist who toured with Bartok and who was later the dedicatee of the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Vecsey has signed across his image and dated Buenos Aires, 1913. On the verso, the postcard is addressed to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño, with the original stamp and postmark. Light wear to the edges; overall in fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.5 x 13.5 cm).
Original signed photograph of the important cellist, a favorite of Brahms as a young prodigy and later the first musical director of the Berkshire Festival of Chamber Music. Shown with his instrument, Willeke has inscribed the photograph at the head to Siegfried Kahn and dated 1922. Photographed by Mishkin of New York. Slightly irregularly trimmed, overall in fine condition. 5.5 x 7.5 inches (13.9 x 19.1 cm). Read More...
AMQS from the great fiddler, boldly penned on a card and signed "Souvenir d'E. Ysaye / Geneve 25 Mars / 1907."
Carl Flesch called him "the most outstanding and individual violinist I have ever heard in my life," and he was the dedicatee of many major works from Debussy, Saint-Saens, Franck, Chausson and others.
A charming vintage colored lithograph caricature postcard of the great violinist, shown looking rather dumpy with coiled strings popping out of his instrument. The drawing by Josef Carl, printed in Austria, ca. 1905. Light mounting remnants on the verso; otherwise in fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 13.9 cm).
Evocative original photograph of the great violinist holding his instrument and bow, photographed ca. 1913 and signed at the lower left by the San Francisco photographer, Bianca Conti, an associate of Arnold Genthe. Affixed to a rigid mount (likely by the photographer), small nicks to edges and small hole to the lower right corner, mounting remnants on the verso. 7.95 x 9.75 inches.Carl Flesch called Ysaye "the most outstanding and individual violinist I have ever heard in my life," and he was the dedicatee of many major works from Debussy, Saint-Saens, Franck, Chausson and others.
A signed hand-colored portrait postcard of the important Italian conductor, brother of the tenor Italo Campanini and conductor at La Scala for three years. Campanini has signed boldly above his image and dated the postcard Milan, December 5, 1904--the year in which he conducted the premiere of Madama Butterfly. His cheeks, lips, and tie pin have been carefully hand-colored. On the verso, the postcard is addressed to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño, with the original Italian stamp and postmark. A few slight smudges; overall in fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.6 x 13.8 cm).
An original 1948 program page with halftone photograph, signed by the great Romanian conductor, composer, and teacher, then the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Celibidache was apparently appearing as a guest conductor with a British orchestra, with pianist Cor de Groot (pictured on the verso of the page) as soloist. He has signed at the upper left; another hand has dated April 8, 1948. Left edge rough; some slight creases; overall in fine condition. 5.75 x 8.75 inches (14.3 x 22.1 cm). Read More...
Three autograph signatures from important French conductors of the early twentieth century. Included are signatures from Francis Touche, Camille Chevillard (dated Paris, 1905); and Édouard Colonne (dated Paris, February 11, 1903). In very fine condition. Ranging from 3.5 x 1.5 inches to 4 x 3 inches.
Original program cover from a concert of the London Philharmonia Orchestra on March 12, 1954, boldly signed by the great conductor. Another hand has added Furtwängler's name in capitals below the signature. The cover only (no program included), left edge rough; slight soiling and edge wear, but overall in very good condition. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.5 x 24.6 cm). Read More...
Original menu from a dinner given in honor of the great San Francisco maestro by the Deutscher Liederkranz of New York on February 25, 1907, signed by Hertz on the cover. The inner page features an illustration of the conductor on the podium. 2 pp. One heavy vertical crease with a slight tear; otherwise in very good condition. 6.25 x 9.75 inches (15.9 x 24.9 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph of the important conductor, friend and advocate of Mahler, Strauss, Schoenberg and Reger. Shown surrounded by a group of colleagues and holding the score to a Te Deum, Mengelberg has signed on the mount below the image and dated May 2-9, 1935. He has also penned a caption in Dutch above the image. Heavy water damage to a portion of the photograph and overall toning and foxing; otherwise in good condition. Photograph 7 x 5 inches (17.6 x 12.7 cm), mounted to 9.75 x 8.25 inches (25 x 21 cm).
Striking large signed portrait photograph of the great conductor, known for conducting the premiere of the Rite of Spring and for his tenures with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, and the San Francisco Symphony. He has signed boldly and inscribed the photograph -- perhaps surprisingly! -- to his wife, Doris Hodgkins Monteux: "To my very own Doris, my very adorable one that I love and will love until I die." Stamped on the verso by Shelburne Studios, New York City. Some chipping and light wear to the edges, block of toning around the edges and especially along the lower edge and some ares of light silvering, mounting remnants on verso; otherwise in very good condition. 9.5 x 13.25 inches (24.5 x 33.8 cm). From the estate of Monteux's daughter, Nancie Monteux Barendse, this is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable signed photographs of the conductor we have encountered. Read More...
An an amusing autograph musical quotation of the unmistakable theme from Beethoven's 5th from the influential Italian conductor who led, among many others, the premieres of Cavalleria Rusticana and Tosca. Mugnone has noted in Italian: "Here is what I am thinking always." On a postcard of "Alpi Italiche," by the La Scala scenic designer Carlo Ferrario (1833-1907). On the verso, the postcard is addressed to the Argentinian collector Patricio Otaño, with the original stamp and postmark. Light foxing; overall in fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm).