Original 1951 press photograph of Bernstein rehearsing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Mahler's Second Symphony. Press and photographer (Kaste?) sheets affixed to verso, slightly trimmed and with surface crazing, else fine. A really remarkable early image. 7.75 x 9 inches.
Original press photograph of Bernstein crying at the premiere of his "Mass" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. In fine condition, 7 x 9 inches.
Bernstein's "Mass" was commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy and was premiered on September 8, 1971,
Remarkable original 8 x 10 inch photograph, stamped August 29, 1945, with Newbold Morris, chairman of the board of directors of the City Center, and Mayor of NYC, Fiorello La Guardia. As per newspaper clipping affixed to verso, they are shown "at City Hall Yesterday where the Mayor announced that Bernstein has been appointed music director of the City Center for the 1945-46 season. Small area of in-painting for press publication around the heads, light wear to edges, stamps and clippings on verso, else fine.
Remarkable original photograph of the great conductor, stamped 3 April, 1951 [should be 1961] on verso, with Bernstein shown smoking a cigarette while checking "a camera angle before taping 'Folk Music in the Concert Hall'" (as per newspaper clipping included, stamped April 9, 1961).7 x 9 inches (23 x 18 cm). Stains and small crease to lower blank margin, else fine.
Two original photographs of the great conductor, one shown at the keyboard and stamped March 17, 1959 on verso; the other, a dramatic photograph with baton, undated but ca. early 1960s. The second with creases along lower area, otherwise fine. 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23 cm)
Remarkable original photograph of the very young conductor, who is shown on the podium in rehearsal ca. 1951, framed by the silhouettes of two musicians. A truly stunning image. Creases to edges, small verso tape repairs to tears along upper and right margins, else in fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
Remarkable original 1945 photograph of the very young conductor, arm and arm with two other conductors. According to the press notice affixed to the verso, they were among those who turned out for the beginning of the Gershwin Jubilee Week at the Hotel Astor. In fine condition, with a few stray marks. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
Original 1963 photograph of the American composer and conductor at the NY Philharmonic's Young People's Concert, "A Tribute to Teachers." Bernstein is shown standing with his own teacher, Renée Longy, and others, including Helen Coates, Olga Koussevitsky, A. Tillman Merritt and Philip Marson. In very fine condition. 9 x 7 inches (22.8 x 17.8 cm.).
Photograph of the (then) doyen of American composers, his younger colleague and the Ukrainian-American violinist, with printed caption to head, "11/9/80 New York: Violinist Isaac Stern (L) and conductor Leonard Bernstein congratulate Aaron Copland 11/9 on his 80th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall. Bernstein conducted the American Symphony Orchestra in a special Copland Birthday Celebration for the dean of American composers." Oblong format, 9.5 x 7 inches (17.6 x 24 cm). In fine condition.
Amusing original 1980 John Whitman photograph of the three great musicians at a reception in Washington, Slava shown laughing ans smiling broadly. Camera Press LTD and other stamps to verso, with press clipping. 6.5 x 4.7 inches and in fine condition.
Photograph of the American composer, conductor and pianist and the Italian stage director and filmmaker seated at a table, talking and smiling at each other, with Bernstein hugging Visconti's head. From Agence France-Presse. Extended caption printed to verso explaining that the photo was made after the opening performance of Verdi's Falstaff at the Vienna State Opera, a production directed by Visconti and conducted by Bernstein. No date is given, but the performance took place in 1966. Oblong format, 5 x 7 inches (12.8 x 17.8 cm). Small crease to lower left corner; else in very good condition.
An original doubleweight photograph of the important composer and conductor shown in semi-profile from below, taken by fellow composer David Diamond and with his raised stamp lower left, inscribed in blue ink to verso "Credit: Photo / David Diamond" and in pencil "Venezia 1954." 9 x 6.75 inches (23.3 x 17.5 cm). In very fine condition. Read More...
Original gelatin silver print by the German-born American photographer and photojournalist, showing the great conductor on stage, leading his orchestra with an intense energy! Signed in ink to recto by the photographer, lower right, and editioned 5/250 lower left. Signed, titled, and dated on verso in pencil. Unexamined out of frame but in apparently fine condition. Sight 8 x 12 inches; nicely matted and framed to an overall size of 22 x 25.5 inches (56 x 65 cm). Read More...
New York: Ridge Press Book/ Viking Press . 1968. First edition. Richly illustrated with photographs, showing both the public and private sides of this phenomenal talent and personality. Boldly signed and inscribed in black ink by Bernstein on title and dated 1972. Pictorial hardcover, 191 pp. Outer printed glassine dj partially torn, else fine. Fine. Read More...
A superb set of four original doubleweight photographs by Ken Regan, taken in 1972 at Lincoln Center, New York. Three measuring 9 x 14 inches, one 9.75 x 14 inches. Edges slightly creased, overall fine. Stamped by the photographer on the verso of each and identified in his hand. Read More...
New York: Random House. 1958. First, 1st issue. . Hardcover with dust jacket, 5.5 x 8.25, 143 pages. Signed and inscribed on the first free end page in black felt tip, "Best wishes to Matt Stiller, from Stephen Sondheim, 4/9/93." Book condition: fine, with sunning to the jacket's spine, and a tape-repaired tear to the spine's head. Read More...
New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 1980. First edition. Octavo, brown cloth-backed rust boards in gilt, in dj. viii, [ii] 469 pp. Illustrated in B&W. Near Fine. From the library of Leonard Bernstein's, inscribed to him on the front endpaper in an unknown hand: "To Lenny / on receiving the first N.Y.S. award in Music, and to celebrate the world premiere of his Kostelanetz 'toast,' we give this biography of a New York forerunner in opera, show & philosophy / Love / Katie & Keri." Together with a printed card identifying the volume as having originally been sold in the Leonard Bernstein Estate sale at Sotheby's as lot 151. Read More...
Autograph letter from a M. Royer to French doctor and anthropologist Louis Bertillon. 1 p., n.d. ("Mercredi 28"). Translated from the French, in part: "My dear comrade, I saw Mr. Couneau this morning; he is leaving tomorrow morning; [...] please be at his house in Rue honoré 216, today at five. He will be awaiting you." Light toning; notes added in another hand; remnants of a seal to the verso; overall fine. 5.25 x 8 inches (13.4 x 20.8 cm). Read More...
21797. Berton, Henri-Montan. (1767-1844). La Création. Paroles de M. de Boufflers Musique et Accompagnement de Piano ou Harpe [Manuscript]
Manuscript for voice and piano/harp in an unknown copyist hand. Disbound upright folio. Bifolium. Title to fol. 1r; music with first strophe as text underlay to fol. 1v and 2r., notated on 14 hand-ruled staves; strophes 2 and 3 as residual text to fol. 2v. The text is by Stanislas de Bouffler (1738-1815). Title identifies Berton as "Member du Conservatoire Imp[érial] de France"; the word "Impérial" allows to date this manuscript to the Napoleonic era (1804-1815). 12.5 x 9.5 inches (32 x 24 cm). Very clean. Leaves partially detached. Horizontal fold. Otherwise in good condition.
Signed card from the Italian violinist, teacher, music editor, and member of the Flonzaley String Quartet, dated New York, March 1932, and mounted to paper with a half-tone photograph clipped from an unknown publication, along with a clip of paper in Betti's hand that reads "Adolfo Betti, Hotel Ansonia, New York City," likely clipped from the envelope in which Betti returned the card once signed. Fine. Paper measures 6.75 x 6 inches (17.1 x 15.2 cm.), card 3.25 x 2.25 inch (8.2 x 5.7 cm.).