The Autographs and Collectible Memorabilia Blog

Giuseppe Verdi: A Life...in Color!

When it comes to Italian opera, few names have had such an impact as Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). Considered one of the greatest composers of his generation, and probably of all times, Verdi is the author of opera classics like La Traviata, Aida, and Rigoletto, just to name a few. ...

William Kapell: Honest American Pianist of All Time

There are hundreds of great pianists from all parts of the world. But depending on their performance and composition, some are at the top of the game. Among the renowned American pianists, William Kapell tops the list. In his professional career, Kapell seemed to have the combined qualities of greatest...

Henryk Wieniawski: Violin Prodigy and Gifted Composer

The name of Henryk Wieniawski has been synonymous with perfection in violin performance, along with the virtuosic fireworks and sublime melodies his music offers. Wieniawski deservedly occupies a unique position in the history of violin playing. He was a brilliant virtuoso whom contemporary critics and music lovers regarded as the re-incarnation of...

Alessandro Moreschi: The Last Castrato

On the 21st April 1922, the very last singer of a Western musical tradition going back at least 500 years died. Young Alessandro Moreschi (shown here singing at a young age) was a castrato, and from him we have the only recordings of a voice type obtained through castration before...

Gustav Mahler vs Arturo Toscanini at the Metropolitan Opera

In 1907, Gustav Mahler was reigning supreme as conductor of the New York Met Opera. Then, in 1908, the Italian Arturo Toscanini arrived. The clash between these two enigmatic giants of the music world was inevitable and their polar opposite styles have become the stuff of legends. The Russian-American pianist...

Star Trek Memorabilia: Many Treasures From a Vast Universe

When it comes to memorabilia collectors, you're not likely to find many groups more passionate about their subject matter than those that collect Star Trek items. And considering the original show's multiple spin-offs, movies, books, graphic novels, an animated series, and its many other iterations, the abundance of potential collectibles...

Maria Malibran - Fame and Tragedy

Daughter of the celebrated singer and teacher Manuel García, Maria Malibran was to become one of the most revered and influential singers of the first half of the 19th century. Born in Paris in 1808, Maria Malibran started her journey from Paris. She was taken to Italy at the age...

Anton Rubinstein – Talented Pianist and Educator

Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a widely respected Russian pianist, composer, and conductor during the second half of the 19th century. He is most famous for founding the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and a series of concerts that covered the history of the piano music. However, there is much more to the...

Manuel Garcia Senior (1775-1832), Patriarch of a Singing Dynasty

Although 18th century Spain produced many distinguished artists, only a handful of them reached long-standing stardom and exerted significant influence over bel canto. In the 17th century - and contrarily to Italy, France, or Germany - Spain was primarily the cradle of zarzuelas. These include the baroque zarzuelas, which arguably...

Paul Dukas – The Great French Composer and a Critic

A French composer, scholar, critic, and teacher of composition, Paul Abraham Dukas was born in Paris on October 1, 1865. A diligent man with a modest personality, Paul was an intense self-critic. For these self-critical characteristics, he destroyed many of his compositions. While he wrote lots of music in various...

Opera Singers Who Died in the Holocaust

On 30 January 1933, life changed for every German citizen and for some, very dangerously indeed. Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party was declared the only legal political entity in Germany, and they began to put their plans in place for segregating everyone who did not fit their "Aryan" ideal. These people...

Grand Opera - The Story of the Met by Charles and Mirella Affron - Book Review

Review of the book Grand Opera - The Story of the Metropolitan Opera by Charles Affron and Mirella Affron.

Top 15 Famous Violinists of All Time

Violin playing technique and styles have evolved drastically and considerably over the past 300 years from the time of Giuseppe Tartini in the late 1600s till to-day. Many violinists have left a lasting legacy on the world of violin playing but only a few can truly claim their title as...

Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia - The Testament of an Icon

Marilyn Monroe was an icon. Even today, nearly 60 years after her death, Ms. Monroe's legacy endures and likely always will. Despite numerous efforts to replicate her fame — Marilyn Monroe, nee Norma Jean Mortenson, stands out among Hollywood royalty. Here she is depicted in a famous scene in the...

Opera Tenors: Top Historical Spanish Singers

MANUEL DEL POPULO VICENTE GARCIA (Sevilla 1775 - Paris 1832) A tenor of historic importance, the creator of Almaviva in the world premiere of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia in 1816. He also excelled as composer and teacher of singing, and wrote one of the most important and referential treatises...

Anna Pavlova: Her Life and Career...in Color!

Anna Pavlova is one of the most famous ballerinas in the history of the artform. Born in Russia, she dazzled audiences around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with her artistry, grace, and athleticism. She was also a woman ahead of her time in other ways....

What Are the Factors that Determine Autograph Values?

Ok, so in another article, we have described how the value of an autograph can be estimated by comparisons. Here we discuss in a little bit more detail the factors affecting the value of your autograph item. And the most important factor is (hear drums): COST If you are a...

Archival Framing: 10 Best Recommendations to Protect your Autographs

As collectors and autograph dealers, we regularly come across framed historical photographs and documents, which have to be removed from the frame. WHAT IS ARCHIVAL FRAMING? Archival framing is a type of work done to place your items in a frame (framing) using a certain quality of materials and methods....

Frame Shop Selection: Finding the Best Frame Shop for Your Autographs

Like other forms of goods and services advertising, we are inundated with countless ads for framing services by arts and crafts chains as well as local mom and pop framing stores. These ads show you pictures of framed artwork and maybe even the interior of their stores with their attractive displays. However, behind...

Opera vs Operetta vs Musical...What's the Difference?

Like many artforms, the dividing lines between stage works including music are blurred. Learn about the differences between opera vs operetta vs musical

Book "The Performances of Richard Strauss Operas in the 20th Century" - In 2 Volumes

During a hot weekend in August 1973 I sat on my terrace and lookedthrough old magazines not yet read and found an article which stated that one has to choose his hobby for the time after retiring at the latest at the age of forty, otherwise it will not work....

Strange Collectibles: Odd Things that People Collect

From rare coins and autographs to vintage comic books and valuable documents, collectors carefully acquire and catalogue a wide variety of items. Hobbyists often see collecting as an enjoyable way to spend their free time. Some collectors are motivated by the investment value. Others do it for the sheer love...

Farewell to Christa Ludwig

Christa Ludwig, one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 93 at her home in Klosterneuburg, Austria. Ms. Ludwig was a renowned singer and stage actor who brought power and charisma to every song and role. Her career spanned close to half a...

Percy Grainger – The Greatest Pianist and Champion of Folk Music

Australian-born pianist and composer-arranger Percy Grainger is often credited with helping to revive interest in British folk music in the early 20th century. His work and his personal life were colorful, leaving behind a legacy that people continue to discuss. Explore the life of Percy Grainger to gain more insight...