Cortis, Antonio. (1891–1952)
Signed Photograph
Magnificent and rare signed Daguerre of Chicago doubleweight photograph of one of the greatest tenors of the post-Caruso era, who has inscribed to Charles Drumheller, tenor and longtime rehearsal pianist at the Metropolitan and Chicago Lyric Opera: "Al carissimo / Charly con / molto afetto / Sinceramente / Antonio Cortis." Light wear to corners, overall in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). The third signed photograph of Cortis we've had in 15 years!"Cortis was considered to be one of the best of Spanish tenors, standing in a direct line between Francisco Viñas and Plácido Domingo. His voice possessed a very rich tone which, combined with his spontaneity of style, made him an ideally romantic singer. A man of a certain reserve, he did not overplay emotions, as other contemporaries were inclined to do, yet was a superlative interpreter of verismo operas by composers such as Giordano and Mascagni, whose music he performed with an apparent extraordinary ease. The critic John Steane has described his recorded interpretation of Giannetto in Giordano’s La cena delle beffe as ‘one of the most vivid pieces of vocal characterisation on record’." (Naxos) (20260)
Signed Photograph Opera