Products

French baritone (1865-1930), signed postcard photograph, shown in role in Massenet's Ariane. Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in very good condition.  

French baritone and tenor (1758-1831). Rare and important autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated October 20, 1830, where he addresses Louis-Denis Grégoire, secretary to the composer Jean-François Lesueur: “…je m’empresse de répondre à votre lettre du 18 ct. par laquelle vous vous m’annoncez que vous et mon ami Lesueur avez fait toutes les démarches nécessaires pour me faire obtenir une pensione de retraite pour mes services à la chapelle (…) je vais m’empresser de vous envoyer la petition courte et précise que vous me demandez. L’idée que vous me donnez, de m’adresser directement au Roi est excellente…”. Lays was recruited by the Paris Opéra in 1779. He soon became a leading member of the company, despite quarrels with the management. Lays enthusiastically welcomed the French Revolution and became involved in politics with the encouragement of his friend Bertrand Barère. Barère's downfall led to Lays being imprisoned briefly, but he soon won back the public and secured the patronage of Napoleon, at whose coronation and second wedding he sang. This association with the Emperor caused him trouble when the Bourbon monarchy was restored and Lays's final years were darkened by disputes over his pension, mounting debts, the death of his only son and his wife's illness. After a career spanning more than four decades, he died in poverty.  Open size is 10 x 8.1 inches, three written page in one folded sheet, folds, creaes, some rust stains, punched hole, in overall very good condition.

Italian tenor (b. 1957), signed photograph, shown in role in Baldassare Galuppi's Il Filosofo di Campagna at La Scala, Milan, inscribed and dated in 1982. Stamped on verso by photographer Masotti, La Scala, Milan. Size is 5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition. 

Spanish/catalán singer (1887-1974), signed photo, shown in Carmen. Size is 5.5 x 9.25 inches, in excellent condition

Spanish tenor (1887-1974), one of the greatest tenors from Spain who had a great international career. Great signed half-tone photo, inscribed, 7 x 9.5 inches, shown in Il Piccolo Marat, opera by Mascagni, dated in 1962 in Barcelona, Spain, in excellent condition

Spanish tenor (1887-1974), one of the greatest tenors from Spain who had a great international career. Signed photo postcard, inscribed, 3.25 x 5.5 inches, shown as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. Some scratches, otherwise in very good condition

Spanish tenor (1887-1974), one of the greatest tenors from Spain who had a great international career. Great signed photo postcard, inscribed, shown as Cavaradossi in Tosca, dated in 1928, great condition.

Spanish tenor (1887-1974) and Italian baritone (1875-1955). Album page signed by both artists in each side including a short music quotes from Tosca and Rigoletto, both dated in Havana, 1917. Size is 5.5 x 7.5 inches, minor stains, in very good condition.

Australian actor (b.1939) and former model.  Modern print photograph, shown as James Bond in the 1969 film "On her Majesty's Secret Service".  Size is 7.9 x 9.9 inches, some smudge over the signature, minor stains over the upper border, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian tenor (1919-1981) whose centers of his career were Rome, Naples, and Bologna. Gorgeous black-and-white promo photograph signed by him, shown as Otello in Rossini's opera at the Rome Opera. Size is 7 x 9.3 inches, in excellent condition.

American mezzo-soprano (1891-1946), large signed photo, shown as herself. Inscribed to Leo Riemens. Stamped on verso by photographer Pach Brothers, New York. Size is 8 x 10 inches, slight crack in upper right outside the area of the image and signature, otherwise in excellent condition.

American contralto (1849-1946). Sepia photograph of her by photographer Hartsook (S.F. Los Angeles) signed and inscribed by Lazzari with a short sentiment. Size is 7 x  9.1 inches, minor water stains over the bottom, otherwise in very good condition.

French composer (1857-1944) of Austrian and Italian origin. His business card with a short text in French written by him on the front and verso. Size is 3.75 x 2.25 inches, overall soft age-toning, otherwise in excellent condition.

French composer (1857-1944) of Italian ascend. A wonderful collection of 7 autograph letters signed by him plus 1 typed letter signed by him (with some handwriting at the bottom). Various sizes, lengths, formats, and conditions (see scans provided). SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian bass (1887-1953), who had an extensive international career, associated with the Chicago Civic Opera, the Met Opera and the Salzburg Festival, often invited to sing in other important opera houses. Signed photo as Archibaldo, in L´Amore dei Tre Re (opera by Italo Montemezzi). Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian bass (1887-1953), who had an extensive international career, associated with the Chicago Civic Opera, the Met Opera, and the Salzburg Festival. Signed photograph, shown as himself, inscribed and dated in 1920. Size is 8 x 10 inches. Photo by Majestic, Chicago, a crease on the upper right corner not affecting the signature or the image, in excellent condition.

Italian tenor, signed photograph, shown as himself, dated in 1953. This is a 4 x 5.75 inch photo, mounted onto soft cardboard, total item size is 6 x 8.25 inches, in very good condition.

American tenor and inventor (1921-2006), active with the Michigan Grand Opera company, also appeared on radio and films. Signed photograph, shown in role, inscribed in 1950. Bold handwriting and signature. Stamped on verso by photographer John Karalis, Detroit. Size is 8 x 10 inches, small creases and folds, otherwise in very good condition.

Canadian violinist and teacher (1906-1985), toured extensively when young, later dedicated to teaching and retired early due to illness. Milhaud composed a violin concerto that he premiered in 1948. Le Blanc had the chance to perform for president Roosevelt at the White house in 1941. Signed photo, shown with his violin, inscribed and dated in Quebec, 1941. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

French soprano and voice teacher (1938-2018), signed photo postcard, shown as herself. Size is 3.25 x 5.25 inches, in very good condition.

French soprano and voice teacher (1938-2018), signed postcard photograph, shown in title role of Puccini's Tosca. Photo by Editions photographers, Paris. Size is 4 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

French soprano and voice teacher (1938-2018), signed photograph, shown in role. Size is 5 x 7 inches, small paper loss on top right, otherwise in excellent condition.

French soprano and voice teacher (1938-2018), signed postcard photograph, shown as herself. Size is 3.25 x 5.25 inches, in very good condition.

British author (1931-2020) best known for his espionage novels, many of which were successfully adapted for film or TV. Regular card signed by him. Size is 5 x 3 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED are two unsigned photographs: one with the image of one his book A Perfect Spy and another of him when young. Size is 7 x 9 inches and 4.6 x 7 inches, respectively.

French violinist (1821-1873). Autograph letter in French signed by him, dated 1857, to a certain Mr. Desolliers: “.. The handwriting of M. [Eugène] Vivier (the horn) is quite unknown to me. I'm sorry because I could have saved you from your embarrassment...". Size is 5.1 x 8 inches, 1 pages, rust stains over the left border, creases and folds, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED are the envelope, an unsigned program for a concert featuring Le Cieux on the 7th of April 1863 at Salle Herz in Paris, and a typed biography.

French music teacher (1811-1887), pianist, and composer, among others, of a series of elementary études for piano students. Collection of four autograph letters in French signed by him between 1843 and 1854. Here is a short extract as a sample: To Monsieur Fétis: "... I come sir, to ask you for a fresh proof of this same benevolence. You will receive at the same time as this letter a copy of my Studies, which I beg you to accept..." Different lengths (for a total of 6 written pages), contents, and sizes, All of them in very good condition or better (see scans provided). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

British-born American stage actress (1899-1991), producer, director, translator, and author; active 1914-1984. A fine set of 2 autograph letters written on cards and signed by her, one of them dated 1967. Each one's size is 5 x 3.9 inches, in excellent condition. The original envelope is ALSO INCLUDED.

French baritone (1929-2017), signed photograph, shown in role in Les Cloches de Corneville. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, slight paper loss on edges, otherwise in very good condition. 

French baritone (1929-2017), signed photograph, shown as Albert in Massenet's Werther, inscribed. Stamped on verso by Camera photographers, Marseille. Size is 43.5 x 7 inches, beautiful photo in excellent condition. 

Large poster announcement for the world premiere of this opera by Italian composer, musicologist and teacher Gian Francesco Malipiero (1882-1973), who created 19 operas, 11 symphonies, and many vocal, chamber and symphonic works. World premiere performance on Sept 4th, 1966 in La Biennale di Venezia, Venice. Poster is 39.25 x 13.75 inches, has folds, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a full program for La Biennale (an international festival for contemporary music).

Lot of 5 beautiful color photos, all signed by performers, from the production of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2003. Photos signed by Isabel Bayrakdarian, Lauren McNeese, Peter Mattei and Ruth Ann Swenson. Each photo's size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition. Sold as a lot only - not sold separately.

Four-page program for a performance of this opera at the Salzburg Festival, 1948, with Herbert von Karajan conducting, cast includes Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Giuseppe Taddei and others.  Program is 5.8 x 8.25 inches, in excellent condition. Also included are 2 ticket stubs.

Beautiful book in landscape format with title embossing; well-preserved copy with 156 full-page art reproductions. Published by Bernrd et Cie / Didier et Mericant, Paris, edition of 1898. Size is 13.25 x 11 inches, see scans of front cover and title page. ALSO INCLUDED is a fabulous collection of 85+ photo postcards of artistic female nudes, mostly French from early 20th century, some colorized (see one example), mostly in sepia or black and white. A few have written notes on verso, some on the back, most are new. Each one is approx. 3.5 x 5.5 inches, all in very good condition or better.

First edition, complete collection of this rare satirical literary journal directed with many drawings by French illustrator Adolphe Willette (1857-1926). 51 issues from July 6, 1888 to September 20, 1889) including the special numbers at the end of the album, published two years after the bankruptcy of "Le Pierrot" - all real masterpieces of lithography. Each magazine is 11.5 x 15.5 inches, consists of two sheets in folio format, illustrated on the first page of a lithograph of A. Willette and for some issues, caricatures on the third page. Editor was Emile Goudeau. Adolphe Willette is inseparable from the Montmartre district where he decorated many cabarets, pubs and the famous Moulin Rouge. Painter first, he exhibited at Chat Noir after having participated in its creation. A controversial figure, Willette ran as an anti-Semitic candidate in the 1889 legislative elections in Paris.  Bound in one hardcover volume, in very good condition. See examples of some pages and cover.

Original playbill for the first performance in America of Meyerbeer's opera "Le Prophete" at Niblo's Garden Grand Opera, New York, on November 23, no year but ca. 1850s, featuring celebrated Italian tenor Lorenzo Salvi. Size is 8.1 x 17.4 inches, central fold, in very good condition.

Beautiful set of 5 vintage cabinet photos, showing singers for the world premiere of Le Roi d'Ys, opera by Eduard Lalo, at the Opera Comique in Paris, May 1888. Set includes: Jean-Henri Cobalet (1855-?) in the title role of the King of Ys, contralto Blanche Deschamps-Jehin (1857-1923) as Margared, famous tenor Jean-Alexandre Talazac (1853-1892) as Mylio, shown together with soprano Cecile Simonet (1859-?) as Rozenn, and 2 more cabinet photos of Simonet alone in the same role. Size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches each, all in excellent condition.

French baritone (b. 1955), signed photo, shown as himself, dated in 1985. Stamped on verso by photographer Olivier Bussard, Lyon. Size is 5 x 7 inches.

French baritone (b. 1955), signed photograph, shown in role, dated in 1985. Size is 3.75 x 5.5 inches, small creases and bends and slight paper loss on bottom right, otherwise in very good condition.

French baritone (b. 1955), signed photograph, signed on both front and verso. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

French flutist (1898-1985), who was also a professor at the Paris Conservatori, several composers dedicated works to him. Autograph note signed, dated in 1930, together with an unsigned photo of him, behind famous soprano Lili Pons. Note is 4.75 x 7.75 inches and photo is 9.5 x 7 inches.

English entertainment reporter (1941-2008). Fine black-and-white photograph signed by him with a short sentiment. Size is 4 x 6.1 inches, in excellent condition.

Swedish singer and actress (1907-1981), whose career enjoyed its peak during the 1930s and 1940s.  Nice photograph shown as herself, signed by her.  Size is 4.1 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Swedish actress and singer (1907-1981), active between 1929 and 1979, but mostly in Germany between 1936-1943, unfortunately, linked to films and lyrics with Nazi propaganda. Fine black-and-white photo postcard signed by her. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.