All Newest Opera Autographs

Russian star baritone (1962-2017), recognized as one of the greatest of the last century. Large signed photo, shown in Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame. Very clear handwriting and signature. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

British tenor (1885-1969), a popular concert singer and recording artist. Autograph letter signed, dated in 1935, to a fan, in English, interesting content, on 2 sides of a sheet that is 7 x 8.75 inches, plus a handwritten page with his short bio, in very good condition.

American mezzo-soprano/contralto (1878-1934), who toured worldwide immensely, and greatly helped raise funds for charity causes, later in life became a teacher. Autograph letter signed, dated in 1929, responding to a potential student, two pages in separate sheets, in English, each one is 5.75 x 7.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian star tenor (1890-1957), widely regarded as one of the greatest tenors of his generation. Amazing, interesting and large collection of contracts with theaters and concert agents, all signed by superstar tenor Beniamino Gigli, between 1926 and 1951. Some 33 contracts plus a few documents, most bearing his signature, signing theaters/agencies include: Teatro Alla Scala (Milan), Teatro San Carlo (Naples, Italy), Terme di Caracalla (Rome), Teatro Adriano (Rome), NBC Artists (New York), Teatro Nacional San Carlos (Lisbon, Portugal), San Francisco Opera, Teatro Reale dell´Opera (Rome), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Columbia Concerts Corp., R. E. Johnston, Teatro Argentino and Radio Belgrano (Argentina), agency Laurent Mariosa, agent Ricardo Covoes (Lisbon), etc. Varios sizes, from 8 x 10 inches to 8.5 x 11.75 inches. Also in this lot are 5 interesting contracts signed with the Federazione Nazionale Fascista del Lavoratori dello Spettacolo, with the letterhead of this institution, from the period 1940-1943, for opera performances in different Italian theaters (Arena di Verona, Maggio Fiorentino, Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, Teatro Regio in Parma, Teatro Sociale in Mantova), one page each, 8 x 11 inches.  All in good condition, see scans - Sold as a collection only, not sold separately.

Scottish tenor (1884-1977), large signed photo, shown in role, signed in London, dated in 1923. Inscribed. Blind stamped by photographer Fred Hartsook. Size is 7.25 x 8.75 inches, with a crease to the right of image not affecting the very clear handwriting and signature. Otherwise in very good condition.

Czech bass (1860-1908), signed photo postcard, dated in 1902. Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, some wear on edges but otherwise attractive vintage historic item in extremely good condition. 

German dramatic soprano (b. 1963) especially known for her interpretations in the Wagnerian repertoire , signed photo, shown as herself. Size is 4 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

American tenor (1869-1923), signed photo postcard, shown as himself, dated in 1912. Photo by Breitkopf and Hartel, New York. Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in extremely good condition.

American tenor (1952-2007), signed photo, shown as himself. Very clear handwriting and signature. Size is 3.5 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

American tenor (1952-2007) and German soprano (b. 1967), double signed photo, shown as Tito and Servilla, respectively, in Mozart's Clemenza di Tito at the 1997 Salzburg Festival. Stamped on verso by Photo Schaffler, Salzburg. Size is 4 x 6 inches, very attractive photo in excellent condition.

French soprano (1852-1939), celebrated especially for her performances of operettas by Jacques Offenbach, starring in the world premieres of his La Jolie Parfumeuse, Girofle-Girofla, La Marjolaine and Le Petit Duc, among many others. Autograph note signed, 2 pages, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 4.3 x 5.9 inches, beautifully preserved in excellent condition.

German soprano (b.1971) and American mezzo-soprano (b.1960), double signed photo showing them as the Composer and Zerbinetta, respectively, in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. Size is 4.9 x 6.9 inches, bright beautiful photo in excellent condition.

American mezzo-soprano (b. 1960), large signed photo, shown at the Metropolitan Opera as Octavian in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, one of her most celebrated roles. Photo by Winnie Klotz, New York. Size is 8 x 10 inches, beautiful colorful photo in extremely good condition.

French contralto (1882-1915), signed photo postcard, shown as Dalila in Camille Saint-Saens' Samson et Dalila. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, some silvering and wear on edges but otherwise in very good condition.

Italian-American tenor, teacher and opera impresario, founder of the Florida Grand Opera (formerly the Opera Guild of Greater Miami). Small collection with 2 typed letters signed, postcards signed and unsigned photos, various sizes, all in good condition.

Italian bass (1861-1928), who was in the world premiere of Falstaff. Nice cabinet photo signed by him, shown as himself, inscribed to conductor Cabella and dated in 1899. A photo by Lorens, St. Petersburg, size is 4 x 6.25 inches, 3 small holes on the bottom, damage on corners, otherwise in good condition.

Croatian bass-baritone also known as Josip Kaschmann (1850-1925), very nice cabinet photo, shown in role, inscribed and dated in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1903. A photo by Lorens, St. Petersburg, size is 4.1 x 6.4 inches, in very good condition.

Polish bass (1874-1946), who had an extensive career in both sides of the Atlantic, sang at the Met Opera for 24 years. Larger size cabinet photo, shown in role (probably in Faust), a photo by a Russian photographer, inscribed, 5.25 x 8.5 inches, in very good condition.

Italian soprano (1878-1944), and later teacher. Of Jewish origin, during WWII went into hiding under a false name, died later in the war during bombing. Signed photo postcard, shown as herself, inscribed, size is 3.25 x 5.25 inches. Pin holes at top and bottom, otherwise in very good condition - rare!

Polish bass (1892-1965), famous in his time and left recordings. Signed photo, shown in Faust, inscribed and dated in Milan in 1927. Blind stamped by unknown photographer on front, torn and repaired upper left corner and silvering around borders, otherwise in good condition. Rare!

Swedish soprano (1861-1943), with a very active international career in late 19th-early 20th century, Arnoldson was dubbed "the new Swedish nightingale" (as a successor of star soprano Jenny Lind). Signed cabinet photo, shown in the title role in Carmen, inscribed and dated in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1898. Size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, an original cabinet photo by Nadar, Paris, with overall age toning, and a couple of small holes, overall very good condition.

French Basque tenor and baritone (1764-1823), celebrated throughout Europe, particularly for his interpretations of Gluck, during the era of the French Revolution and afterwards. Autograph note signed, addressed to "Citoyens" (the directors of the Paris Conservatory), dated December 14, 1800, announcing his availability for the professorship of singing. Written in French, sold with English translation. Size is 6 x 7.8 inches, fascinating vintage item in beautifully preserved condition.

Bohemian-Austrian operetta soprano (1879-1961), creator of the title role of Hanna in the Merry Widow. Signed photo postcard, shown in Johan Strauss's Die Fledermaus at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna. Size is 3.3 x 5.3 inches, small paper loss on bottom left corner not affecting the image or signature. Otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian tenor (b. 1977), one of today's most popular opera singers, signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 4 x 6 inches, beautiful photo in excellent condition.

Italian soprano (1811-1869), creator of the role of Adalgisa in Bellini's Norma, signature cut, matted. Also included: Beautiful vintage print portrait published by Baerentzen and Co. also matted, attached to solid cardboard backing. Portrait size is 5.75 x 8 inches, signature cut is 2.9 x 1 inches, total item is 8 x 11.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian superstar tenor (1890-1957), one of the greatest tenors of all time, often regarded as "the second Caruso". Large signed photo, shown as Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca, signed in New York, dated in 1921. Blind stamped by photographers Zuretti & Fiorini on front. Size is 4.75 x 11.2 inches, mounting traces on verso, but otherwise in excellent condition.

Latvian mezzo-soprano (b. 1976), who is one of today's greatest opera stars, highly appreciated by her technique and beautiful voice. Beautiful large signed photo, shown in the title role of Bizet's Carmen, one of her most celebrated interpretations. Size is 8 x 10.75 inches, in excellent condition.

American tenor (1932-1996), signed photo, shown in the title role of Wagner's Tannhäuser at the Bayreuth Festival, dated 1986. Stamped on verso by photographer Wilhelm Rauh, Bayreuth. Size is 4 x 5,75 inches, in very good condition.

French tenor (1895-1973), signed and inscribed photo postcard, shown as himself.  Signed at La Monnaie in Brussels, dated in 1928. Stamped on verso by photographer Joseph Rentmeesters, Brussels. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Spanish baritone (b. 1940), signed photo, shown as himself, dated in 1971. Inscribed. Stamped on verso by Fotografia Alfredo, Barcelona. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Czech bass-baritone (1934-2011), signed photo, shown as Kurwenal in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches in very good condition.

Colombian baritone and actor (1916-1986) known for his contract work with MGM studios, signed photo, shown as himself. Inscribed with sentiment. Size is 3.25 x 4.5 inches, in very good condition.

New Zealander tenor (b. 1947), signed photo, shown as himself. Inscribed. Size is 4 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

American tenor (1949-1998), signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 4.25 x 6 inches, in very good condition.

Italian tenor (1923-1960), signed photo postcard, shown as himself. Photo by Vera Fotografia. Size is 4 x 5.75 inches, slight bend on top right but otherwise in very good condition.

American tenor (b. 1941), signed photo, shown as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata. Inscribed. Stamped on verso by photographer Theo Gobel, Munich. Size is 4 x 5.75 inches, in good condition.

American baritone (b. 1962), signed publicity photo, shown as himself. Inscribed. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

German bass-baritone (1879-1964) signed photo postcard, shown as Count di Luna in Verdi's Il Trovatore. Size is 3.4 x 5.4 inches, slight silvering but otherwise beautiful vintage photo in excellent condition.

German tenor (b. 1940) known for his Wagnerian repertoire, signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 4 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Icelandic tenor (1907-1994), signed photo, shown as Don Jose in Bizet's Carmen, dated in 1956. Stamped on verso by photographer Mydtskov. Size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in very good condition.

French tenor (1893-?), signed photo postcard, shown as himself, dated in 1932. Inscribed. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

American bass (b. 1929), signed photo, shown as Don Basilio in Rossini's Barbiere di Siviglia. Size is 3.5 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

French soprano (1827-1895), who was the first Marguerite in the world premiere of Gounod's Faust, and Juliette in the premiere of the same composer's Romeo et Juliette, among other important operas. Nice lot of 5 autograph letters signed by her, in French (sold untranslated), two of the letters show her initials as letterhead. Each letter is 2 to 4 pages long, being each page 5.25 x 8.1 inches in size. Small binding holes on the left border, otherwise in very good condition.  SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Famous Italian contralto (1826-1894), considered one of the greatest in opera history. Lot of 6 autograph letters signed by her, in French (sold untranslated), some with her letterhead. Sizes range from 2.5 x 4 inches to 6 x 3.9 inches, all in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an original unsigned CDV or carte-de-visite, a photo by Le Jeune, Paris, 2.5 x 4.1 inches, ink writing on verso, in excellent condition. 

Italian tenor (1823-1890), creator of the role of Vasco da Gama in the world premiere of L`Africaine (Meyerbeer, 1865).  Autograph music quote with 11 bars of music from the opera Fra Diavolo (by Daniel Auber, 1830), signed and dated by him in Dublin, 1875. Size is 8 x 3.5 inches, in excellent condition.

French soprano (1801-1863), later teacher, particularly associated with Rossini roles and also operas by Meyerbeer and Auber, premiering some of them. Fantastic collection of 12 autograph letter signed, in French (most of them with translations), sizes range from 4 x 5.1 inches to 5.25 x 8 inches, all in very good condition. Not sold separately.

Spanish bass (1905-1995) known especially for zarzuela, signed photo, shown as himself. Inscribed with sentiment. Stamped on verso by Esplugas Suc. Torres, Barcelona. Size is 3.3 x 5.4 inches, in very good condition.

French tenor (1806-1896), famous for being the creator of the role of Edgardo in the world premiere of Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) among other career high points. Set of 4 autograph letters signed, from between 1843 and 1858, in French (sold with translations) - plus one engagement contract 1828-1831 for the Theatre Royal de L`Odeon, printed but signed by him at the end. A total of five items, sizes from 4.9 x 7.25 inches to 8.25 x 10.5 inches, all in very good condition, not sold separately.