La Fille du Regiment - Original Caricature Drawing

Amusing original caricature drawing of "La Stupenda" as Marie in La Fille du Régiment, drawn by the noted American illustrator and caricaturist Sam Norkin. Signed "Norkin" on the drawing and captioned in pencil: "Joan Sutherland in 'The Daughter of the Regiment,' Sun. April 2, 1972." Black and blue ink on card; some light wear, overall very fine. 14.5 x 22 inches (36.5 x 57 cm).

The New York Times wrote of the February 1972 Donizetti production at the Met: "Joan Sutherland stopped the show at her entrance and several times thereafter. Luciano Pavarotti stopped the show with his first aria and, later, with the “Quel destin” aria, the one with the nine—count ‘em, nine—high C's [...] It was that kind of evening, a fun evening with some awfully exciting singing."

New York-born cartoonist Samuel Norkin specialized in theater and arts caricatures for more than seven decades. His drawings of theater, opera, ballet and film celebrities appeared in Variety, Backstage, The Philadelphia Enquirer, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and many other publications. He is best-known for his long tenure providing theatrical illustrations for the New York Herald Tribune (1940–1956) and covering performing arts for the Daily News (from the 1950's to the 1980's.) His highly engaging drawings have been said to "metaphorically grab the reader-onlooker by the shoulders." Because Norkin would draw the performers in rehearsal, his caricatures often served as an effective advance press for shows as they went on the pre-Broadway circuit. (15283)

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Art

Classical Music

Opera

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