Original photograph of the popular and powerful American tenor, signed and inscribed at the upper left to Marge and John, with wishes for a "quick recovery." In fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.2 x 25.5 cm).
Signed photograph of the Russian pianist who studied with Leschetizky and Busoni and who was famed in particular for his Chopin cycles. Signed and inscribed to Marge and John Slaughter and dated June 30, 1956. Poor contrast to the signature and one crease to the upper left, but overall in fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.5 x 20.3 cm).
Original photograph of the great pianist in rehearsal with an orchestra, signed and inscribed at the left and dated February 25, 1954. In very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.1 cm).
176.
[Opera Singers]
Gobbi, Tito. (1913-1984). Signed Costume Photograph as Rodrigo in Don Carlos
Original signed doubleweight photograph of the marvelous baritone, a favorite of Callas, in costume as the Marquis of Posa in Verdi's Don Carlos. Stamped on the verso by the photographer, Paul Hansen. Mounting remnants on verso; otherwise in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.4 x 25.3 cm).
Striking signed portrait photograph from the American soprano, a popular star at the Metropolitan who also sang the world premiere in 1948 of Samuel Barber's Knoxville, Summer of 1915, a work which she commissioned. She is shown in costume as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, posing in a garden. Photographed for the William Morris Agency and boldly signed and inscribed across the image. In fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.6 x 25.5 cm).
Original signed photograph of the wonderful Italian soprano, a favorite of Toscanini, in her role as Desdemona. Photographed by the Metropolitan Opera's longtime photographer, Louis Mélançon, and signed boldly by Albanese across the foot of the image. Some significant wrinkles and scratches, with tape remnants at the upper corners; otherwise in good condition overall. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.3 cm).
Signed portrait photograph of the Spanish soprano, incomparable in La Boheme, Manon and Madama Butterfly and a specialist in French and Spanish art song. Photographed by Christian Steiner for Angel Records, signed and boldly inscribed. Mounting remnants on the verso, otherwise in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.7 cm).
Charming signed photograph of Fleming in the 1999 Metropolitan Opera production of Susannah. She has signed and inscribed boldly in silver marker. Photographed by Christian Steiner. 4 x 6 inches, nicely matted to 9 x 11 inches (22.6 x 27.8 cm).
Autograph letter from the important French painter who left a legacy of 660 portraits and 200 landscapes, currently the subject of a major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum. Dated "Thursday morning." She writes to her friend, Mme. Jacques de Reiset (translated from the French): "Forgive me, as you are so amiable and good, that I am not able to benefit from your kindness this evening; I caught a cold two days ago. I hoped that I would not be in any more pain today, but this dreadful cold has become worse! I do regret it, for I would have so enjoyed spending the evening with you and hearing good music..." She continues to invite Reiset to visit her and writes that she is always home on Saturdays. 1 p. on a bifolium of vivid green notepaper, addressed on the verso. A few small losses to the verso and folding creases; overall in fine condition. 7.75 x 5 inches (19.8 x 12.7 cm) unfolded. Scarce.
Autograph document signed by the French ballet dancer, ballet master, violinist, and composer, listing the dancers who "had the honor of performing the Quadrille before Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses at the Tuileries Palace on February 17, 1806." Signed by Gardel and by the First Chamberlain to Napoleon I, Auguste Laurent, comte de Rémusat, the document lists several celebrated dancers of the era, including the "dieu de la danse" Auguste Vestris and Marie Taglioni, the first ballerina credited with dancing truly en pointe. While Vestris, Mme. Gardel and Emilie Bigottini were in the employ of the Emperor, the document shows that the sixteen other dancers were each paid between 72 and 240 francs for this engagement. An interesting piece of ballet history. One horizontal crease and some light toning; overall in very fine condition. 9.25 x 14 inches (23.6 x 35.7 cm). Read More...
Two original photograph postcards depicting the 1913 concert which was the great composer's last appearance as a pianist. While Saint-Saëns is at the piano, a very young Pierre Monteux, who had conducted the premiere of The Rite of Spring earlier that year, is on the podium. The concert took place at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, on November 6, 1913; Saint-Saëns performed a Mozart piano concerto as well as solo works for piano and organ. One postcard has an unrelated autograph note on the verso, postmarked 1914; overall both postcards are in very fine condition. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (13.9 x 8.9 cm).
Original signed doubleweight photograph of the popular French actor and singer who was also successful in Italian and American films. He is shown flaunting his trademark horsey teeth and smoking a cigarette, and has neatly signed and inscribed at the upper left. Photographed by Intran Studio. In fine condition. 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23.1 cm).
[Paris]: Stern. 1938. Original concert program of the important string quartet from a French performance on May 18, 1938. At this time, the members of the quartet were Josef Roisman, Alexander Schneider, Boris Kroyt, and Mischa Schneider. They performed Bartok's Quartet no. 2 and Beethoven's Quartet no. 7. 1 p. beautifully printed on heavy card stock with deckled edges, in very fine condition. 5.5 x 7.5 inches (14.2 x 19.5 cm).
123.
[Violinists & Cellists]
[Joachim, Joseph. (1831-1907)]. "The last of a classic school" - Vanity Fair cartoon, July 5, 1905.
Chromo-lithograph caricature of the violinist published in the English weekly magazine Vanity Fair on July 5, 1905. The portrait is by Sir Leslie Ward, known as "Spy," the most famous of the outstanding caricaturists who published in the magazine. Small loss to lower right corner or sheet, a few very light creases, else fine. 15 x 10.5 inches.
Large commemorative metal plate, ca. 1900, honoring the composer. Signed with an unidentified monogram HS, the composer right facing bust portrait encircled in garland and in an elaborate decorative outer border of heads and twisting vines. Hanging hardware on verso, a little tarnished in places, but overall very striking indeed. 17 inches [43 cm] in diameter.
[Paris]: Stern. 1912. Original concert programs from two all-Beethoven performances of the leading French quartet, on June 28 and July 1, 1912. Taking place at the Eglise du Gesù (now known as the Eglise St-Ignace) in Paris and organized by the Société des Grandes Auditions Musicales de France, the concerts consisted of Beethoven's quartets nos. 8, 13, 15, and 16. The programs feature an attractive engraving of the interior of the church at the upper left. Each 1 p. Some light toning and two small rusted pin holes at the head of one program; otherwise in fine condition. 6.75 x 9.75 inches (16.8 x 24.8 cm). Read More...
[Paris]: Stern. 1930. Original program from a recital in France of the great Polish American pianist and his frequent collaborator and close friend, violinist Paul Kochanski, on June 27, 1930. The program included sonatas for violin and piano by Brahms and Franck, as well as works by Dohnanyi, De Falla, and Albeniz; the duo would record the Brahms sonata shortly thereafter. 1 p. With deckle edges, in fine condition. 5 x 6.5 inches (12.6 x 16.5 cm).
8 x 10 inch photograph with the raised stamp lower right of Atlantic Photos (Atlantic City, NJ) showing Jenkins on the boardwalk, wearing a bucket hat festooned with appliquéd palm trees, and one of the dowdy coats with fake fur collars for which she was notorious among her circle, her purse cradled under her left arm. Read More...
Original Benque of Paris cabinet photograph of the influential French composer, ca. 1880. Corners toned, otherwise a crisp image in very fine condition. 4.25 x 6.5 inches (10.7 x 16.4 cm).
Original ca. 1870 CDV photograph of the great composer. Stamped at the base "Brahms" and with an unidentified photographer's imprint "P" on the verso. 6.2 x 9.5 cm. Mount trimmed irregularly along the bottom, two corners with blocks of toning, else fine. Rare from this period.