"Per la Malibran" - From the Collection of Maria Callas

Bulògna: Voulp al Sass.. 1830. 16mo.  12 pp.  Unusual and rare panegyric poem composed in dialect by Italian writer Caméll Minarèll, honoring Maria Malibran, creator of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda and works by Bellini and Mendelssohn, one of the most celebrated singers in history, whose early death at the age of 28 contributed to her status as a figure of legend. An extraordinary association copy from the collection of the 20th Century's greatest soprano, originally acquired in the historic 2007 Sotheby's Auction "Maria Callas and her Pygmalion - Her life with Giovanni Battista Meneghini."  Bound in pale pink paper boards. Light toning and foxing throughout, overall in fine condition. Very rare, only one other copy recorded (Stanford).

"On the unexpected death of Maria Callas in 1977, aged only 53, two portraits were found in her Paris apartment.  One was of Elvira de Hidalgo, a leading opera singer who became Callas’ teacher in Athens between 1940 and 1945 and first identified her proclivity for the bel canto repertory, taught her the technique with exemplary thoroughness, and taught her above all how to study.  The other portrait was of the legendary diva Maria Malibran, who was among the first to triumph in that repertory during the 1820s and 1830s.  These were icons to the professional Callas.  There were no pictures of friends, relatives, or lovers."  (Joseph Kerman, "Still La Divina," San Francisco Classical Voice) (19899)

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$1,200.00

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