Signed "floating head" portrait of the great German soprano, dated 1941. Toscanini compared her magnificent voice to a "finely played Stradivarius." In very fine condition. 12.7 x 17.7 cm.
Signed photograph of the Brazilian opera star, one of the best-loved stars of the Met, in her role as Violetta in La Traviata. Dated 1941. One small crease; otherwise in fine condition. 9.5 x 15.3 cm.
Sterling silver folding travel alarm clock, presented to the American mezzo-soprano by the Metropolitan Opera Association on her twentieth anniversary of singing at the Met. Engraved on the case: "RISË STEVENS, 1938–1958. WITH WARM APPRECIATION, METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION." The dial signed Lambert Brothers, 8 day Swiss. 3 x 2.5 inches (7.6 x 6.4 cm). Read More...
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:EphemeraOpera
An uncommon early signed photograph from the legendary soprano, who is shown in her role of Violetta in La Traviata and has signed at the foot in white ink. Together with a secretarial typed letter signed, enclosing the photograph, dated July 15, 1960. Photograph slightly wrinkled with some light silvering, but overall fine. Photograph 4.5 x 6 inches (11.2 x 15.7 cm); letter 5.5 x 7.25 inches (14 x 18.4 cm).
Signed photograph of the acclaimed Belgian bass-baritone. He is shown in a studio portrait and has signed boldly at the foot. Stamped on the verso by Colbert Artists Management. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.6 x 25.6 cm).
Signed photograph of the great Canadian tenor and Swedish dramatic soprano, starring together in the 1960 Metropolitan opera production of Beethoven's Fidelio. Halftone photograph boldly signed by both in ink at the foot. In fine condition. Sight size 7.25 x 7.75 inches (18.5 x 19.8 cm), matted to 11.25 x 12 inches.
Signed photograph of the great American baritone. He is shown as Rigoletto and has signed and inscribed in white ink at the lower right. Together with a page spread from original program from a March 28, 1959 Metropolitan Opera production of Rigoletto (4 pp. from a larger program, showing the cast list and synopsis.) Slight staple holes to the photograph; otherwise overall fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25 cm).
Original press photograph, ca. 1952, showing the great dancer and entertainer with one of the horses on his ranch. Press caption on the verso reads: "When Fred Astaire isn't in front of the cameras he can quickly be found at his Chatsworth ranch where the offspring of his famed horse Triplicate romp and roam..." One stain at the upper right; otherwise very fine. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 24.5 cm).
Two original documents from the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, signed in 1937 by all members of the company. The first item is a book of salary receipts documenting payments to the members of the company, signed multiple times by each performer. The book also contains a typewritten list of each member's monthly salary, dated Berlin, September 9, 1937. Also included is a typed document dated Hamburg, October 31, 1937, declaring that the members of the company are not taking any German currency out of Germany, signed by every member. Signatures include dancers Leon, Helene and Sonia Woizikowsky, Tamara and Anna Tchinarova, Ruth Chanova, Olga Valevska and Mona Dimidova, conductor Ivan Clayton, as well as the company's costume and set designers. Book with toning and edge wear, 6.5 x 8.25 inches (16.7 x 21 cm). Signed document with some edge tears and soiling, 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29.5 cm). Overall very good. Read More...
An original 1916 souvenir program from the first American tour of the Ballet Russe, with full-color illustrations of costumes by Leon Bakst, photographs of the dancers, signed by principal dancers Adolph Bolm and Flore Revalles. Bolm has signed below a photograph of himself firing a bow as Prince Igor; Revalles has signed below a photograph of herself in an oriental costume and dated Baltimore, November 14, 1916. The program contains many full-color illustrations and photographs, including a photograph of Nijinsky in Spectre de la Rose and Bakst's Nijinsky as Faun, ballet descriptions, an itinerary, and 2 pages of ads. Pages are of thick ivory uncoated paper, cover is thick mottled grey paper, with embossed gold lettering and an attractive illustration of Nijinksy in Scheherezade. 36 pp. Heavy edge wear to the covers, which are detached from the pages; internally in very good condition overall. 9 x 12 inches (23.5 x 31.5 cm).
Opulent original program from a 8ieme Saison performance of the Ballets Russes at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées on May 17, 1913. In the newly opened theatre, just two weeks before the infamous premiere of The Rite of Spring, Diaghilev's celebrated company performed the popular ballets of the previous few seasons: L'Oiseau de Feu, Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune, Le Spectre de la Rose, and Danses Polovtsiennes du "Prince Igor," to music by Stravinsky, Debussy, Weber, and Borodin. The orchestra was conducted by the young Pierre Monteux. Scenery and costumes were by Bakst, Golovine, and N. Roerich. The program, lavishly decorated with gold, includes portraits of the principal dancers (including Nijinsky, Nijinska Bolm, Karsavina), fashion plates, and stylish advertisements. The cover features a boldly colored image by Fyodor Fedorovsky of Koschei from The Firebird. Read More...
Original program from a performance of the Russian Ballet (Ballets Russes) at Covent Garden on July 22, 1911. The program featured the legendary dancersTamar Karsavina and Nijinsky in some of their most celebrated roles, including Scheherezade, Le Pavillon d'Armide and Les Sylphides. 4 pp. One heavy vertical folding crease and some light soiling; overall in very good condition. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.5 x 24.5 cm).
New York: Firth & Hall, No. 1 Franklin-Sq. [ca. 1840]. Danced by Madlle Fanny Ellsler [sic], in the grand ballet La Gitana, at her Majestys Theatres, the Courts of Paris & St Petersburg. Arranged for the Piano Forte, by C. W. Glover. Pr. 50 cts. Upright folio. 6 pp. A short piano piece based on one of the legendary Austrian ballerina's popular dances, performed in the early 1840's. The attractive engraving on the cover shows a ballerina (actually not Elssler, but Marie Taglioni) dancing the character dance in a garden scene. Binding has been roughly hand-stitched; edge wear and some toning. Overall in very good condition. 10 x 13.25 inches (25.3 x 33.7 cm). Read More...
Autograph letter from the French ballet dancer, ballet master, violinist, and composer, delivering a new ballet. 1 p., n.d. Translated from the French: "Dear friend, here is my ballet [...] I think nothing has changed as far as the action goes. I think that you will be satisfied with it. I venture to flatter myself that you will handle the style, which is no small matter, but your friendship for me will make this work easy. How happy I will be when the occasion presents itself for me to thank you [...] Until then, be assured that if you hold me in good regard, I will never be ungrateful, and that your friendship is of great value to me. Goodbye, I embrace you and am your true friend, Gardel." Toning, one folding crease with a slight tear and tape repair to the verso; overall fine. 6 x 8 inches (15.6 x 19.9 cm). Rare. Read More...
Original press photograph of the American dancer and actress, ca. 1948. Press caption on the verso reads: "Lovely Sono Osato, former ballet star and more recently featured in Broadway musical hits, makes her motion picture debut as a gypsy dancer in M-G-M's 'The Kissing Bandit.'..." One slight corner crease; overall fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.6 x 25.4 cm).
Original doubleweight portrait photograph of the immortal ballerina en pointe, within a decorative circular border. A beautiful image on period photo paper in very fine condition. 9.5 x 10.5 inches (24 x 26.5 cm).
Paris: Manzi, Joyant & Cie.. 1909–1911. Group of original issues of the Parisian magazine Le Théatre, dating from 1909 to 1911, featuring color covers with ballet and opera stars of the day and profuse illustrations throughout. 6 issues (nos. 243, 250, 298, 299, 300, and 312). The decorative covers feature Lydia Lipkowska as Violetta, Mathilde Kschesinsska in the Imperial Ballet, Tamar Karsavina as the Firebird, Ida Rubinstein as Saint Sebastian, Maria Kuznetsova as Jacqueline in a costume by Leon Bakst, and Lina Cavalieri as Stefana. The contents include stylized portraits and stage scenes with singers, actors, and dancers including Michel Fokine, Vera Fokina, and Nijinsky. Also featured are costume and set designs, some in color, by Leon Bakst, Constantin Korovine, Nicholas Roerich, Alexander Golovine, George Barbier, and others. Two of the issues include a bound-in insert titled "L'Illustration Théatrale," each containing a complete play script. No. 298 has a complete split to the spine and is in rather fragile condition; other issues overall in fine condition with only some light spine and edge wear commensurate with age. Folio. 10.75 x 14 inches (27.5 x 35.5 cm). Read More...
Autograph letter from the 19th-century ballerina, a younger cousin of Marie Taglioni, declining an invitation. 1 p., n.d. Translated from the French: "Madame, the doctor advises me to rest, which prevents me, to my great regret, from obliging you with the service which you ask. I hope at another time to be more lucky [...] Taglioni Fuchs." Fine. 4.25 x 6.5 inches (11 x 17 cm). Read More...
Autograph letter from the most famous Italian ballerina of the Romantic ballet era, a central figure in the history of European dance. 1 p., n.d. ("Lundi.") Translated from the French: "It would be very kind of you, dear Monsieur Desarbres, to give me two orchestra seats and two auditorium seats, or if you prefer, instead of the latter, a box [...] but in any case the two orchestra seats [...] Marie Taglioni." On black-bordered stationery, addressed on the verso to "Monsieur Desarbres à l'Opéra." Slight diagonal creases; overall fine. 4 x 5.25 inches (10.5 x 13.3 cm). Together with a later clipped engraving of Taglioni as a winged fairy.