Composer Autographs - Photos (over $500)

Czech composer (1824-1884), considered by some the father of Czech music, Smetana is today best remembered for his highly popular opera The Bartered Bride and his symphonic cycle Ma Vlast (My Homeland). Large signature on a piece of paper (signature cut), from a document or letter, matted with an original cabinet photograph of the composer to a total size of 10 x 15 inches, signature is 4.9 x 1.7 inches (opening size, actual item is a bit larger). There is 2nd signature by Smetana on verso, but quite smaller (not shown). Mounted on the mat is also an original cabinet photo by J. Mulac, Prague, size is 4.3 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition, mounted with photo corners and easy to remove if desired. Autographs of Smetana are extremely rare.

Star Austrian composer of operettas, waltzes and light music (1814-1899), regarded in his time and even today as the "Waltz King". Signature cut (probably from an autograph album), matted with a nice vintage print of the composer. Total size is 9.8 x 11.25 inches, signature cut is 3.75 x 1.6 inches, all in excellent condition - ready to frame if desired. See full scan and detailed scan. 

Austrian composer (1825-1899), world-famous for his waltzes and operettas, a member of a large family of musicians, Strauss was known as "The Waltz King".  Signed cabinet photo, shown young, inscribed to Paula von Goldschmidt (knee Paula Kurz, 1854-1940), wife of Austrian composer Adalbert von Goldschmidt (1848-1906). Paula von Goldschmidt was a singer, and premiered many songs composer by her husband Adalbert in the Salon am Opernring in Vienna. Prominent guests there were Liszt, Bruckner, Hugo Wolf and Johann Strauss (II), so this probably was signed and inscribed to her in one of the concerts. Size is 4.1 x 6.6 inches, an original cabinet photo by Bergamasco, St. Petersburg. Repaired cracks and loss of paper at the top center, not affecting the signature, rust on verso and irregular borders, but in overall good condition. 

Austrian composer (1825-1899), world-famous for his waltzes and operettas, a member of a large family of musicians, Strauss was known as "The Waltz King".  Printed portrait mounted on a photographer mat by J. Löwy (Vienna, 1897) boldly signed and inscribed with a long sentiment by the composer over the bottom. Total size is 6.3 x 8.3 inches, some wear on edges, mounting damage on verso, in overall very good condition.

German composer (1864-1949) and conductor, best known for his tone poems and operas; considered a successor of Wagner and Liszt. Beautiful half-tone photograph (probably from a program or magazine) of the Berlin premiere in 1911 of Richard Strauss' opera "Der Rosenkavalier" signed by the composer himself and other eight artists, mounted on soft cardboard. Size is 10.75 x 6.7 inches, some wrinkles, cracks, and rust stain at the center, all signatures are clearly visible, and in overall fair condition. Signatures from left to right: German tenor Waldemar Henke (1876-1945), someone named Brandt,  German regisseur Georg Droscher (1854-1945), German soprano Claire Dux (1885-1967), composer Richard Strauss, German conductor Karl Muck (1859-1940), German theater director Georg von Holsen (1858-1922), German bass Paul Knupfer (1865-1920), German baritone Baptiste Hoffmann (1863-1937)    

German opera composer (1864-1949), one of the greatest of the 20th century, whose best-known works are Elektra, Salome, and Der Rosenkavalier. Beautiful cabinet photo of signed by Strauss twice; photo by Albert Meyer, Berlin, blind-stamped on the front with the year 1906. The first signature is in black ink at the bottom with the written text "Hamburg" below in his handwriting. The second signature is over the top of his head, in blue ink. On verso, a text in ink by a different hand reads "Heard Dr. Strauss in a song recital with Fraulein Schumann... Nov 21st, 1921". Size is 4.1 x 6.5 inches, in very good condition. VERY rare! Richard Strauss toured America in 1921 with soprano Elisabeth Schumann, and on November 21st they performed in St. Louis with Schumann singing Strauss songs and Strauss at the piano. 

German composer (1864-1949) and conductor, best known for his tone poems and his operas Salome, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier, and others; considered a successor of Wagner and Liszt.  Fine black-and-white photograph signed and inscribed by him adding a 3-bar music quote at the top, dated in Rio de Janeiro, October 1, 1920. Size is 6.9 x 9.9 inches, in very good condition.

German composer (1864-1949) and conductor, best known for his tone poems and his operas Salome, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier, and others; considered a successor of Wagner and Liszt.  Nice black-and-white photo postcard signed by him on the front with a short message in German on verso to Professor Joseph Suttner, dated August 30, 1941. Size is 3.3 x 5.25 inches, jagged edges, in very good condition.

Russian, later French and American composer (1882-1971), widely considered one of the most important of the 20th century. Signed photo, shown from behind at the podium conducting, on the occasion of a performance of his violin concerto at Hollywood High School, 1940, by the American violinist and friend Sol Babitz (1911-1982). Stravinsky inscribed this photo to Batitz, and dated his signature on Oct 27th, 1940. This is an original photograph by Otto Rothschild, who stamped on ink on verso, size is 10 x 8 inches. Minor tape residues over borders and some small creases, otherwise in very good condition.

Russian composer (1882-1971), pianist, and conductor; widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. Nice black-and-white photograph mounted on cardboard and matted signed and inscribed to Cirilo Grassi Diaz (head of Teatro Colon).  Total size is 4.2 x 5.65 inches, minor loss of paper over the lower-left corner, minor scratches, in overall very good condition. Contrast in actual photograph is much better than in the scan.

Star Russian composer (1840-1893) of the late romantic period, today one of the most popular composers in the classical music world.  Great signed cabinet photo showing the composer seated, inscribed and dated on October 24th, 1887 to Vasily Vasilyevich Yastrebtsov, who was a Russian musicologist (1866-1934), later biographer of Rimsky-Korsakov and museum director.  On verso, Yastbretsov wrote that this autograph was signed to him on occasion of the memorial concert to composer Alexander Borodin - who had died a few months earlier in that year - and that the actual occasion was in the morning of October 25th, 1887 (Tchaikovsky incorrectly wrote as Oct. 24th). Below this, is a short text by the wife of Georgy M. Rimsky-Korsakov (1901-1965), grandson of the famous composer of the same last name, and a composer and teacher at the Leningrad Conservatory for over 30 years. He received this photo from Yastbretsov, and upon his death in 1965, his wife wrote this photo was handed over to a new owner named Mikhail Grigorievich Bialik. This is one of the very rare cases in which we can trace back in time not only the precise occasion of signing but perhaps the full line of ownership!. Size is 4.3 x 6.7 inches, very uniform overall age-toning, darker on verso, wear on edges, but still in very good condition.

Star Italian opera composer (1813-1901), a central opera composer in all Europe for 50 years, starting in 1840. Nice imperial sepia cabinet photograph signed by him and dated July 30, 1899, at Montecatini, shown during a social meeting; original photo by Pietro Tempestini (Spezia, Italy). Size is 9.75 x 6.8 inches, in excellent condition.

Star Italian opera composer (1813-1901), a central opera composer in all Europe for 50 years, starting in 1840. Great signed cabinet photo by Benque, Paris, dated in 1892. Photo is signed and inscribed to French soprano Blanche Marchesi (1863-1940), daughter of the famous mezzo-soprano and singing teacher Mathilde Marchesi (1821-1913).  Size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, the front is in very fine condition with some wear on corners, verso shows rust and mounting traces. See scans.

Star Italian opera composer (1813-1901), a central opera composer in all Europe for 50 years, starting in 1840.  Beautiful cabinet photograph of the composer signed by him and inscribed to Gregor Mayer, dated October 15th, 1889.  Size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, ink is a bit faded but still clearly visible, some repairs over the upper border, rust stains on verso, in overall very good condition.

Star Italian opera composer (1813-1901), a central opera composer in all Europe for 50 years, starting in 1840. Great photograph from the 1890s signed by the composer, shown in full body and next to his friend, star Italian tenor Francesco Tamagno (who created the title role in Verdi´s "Otello" in the world premiere of 1887). Photo is inscribed to "the lawyer Campanari", referring to Umberto Campanari, who was his friend, and later became one of the executors of his estate. Beautifully matted and ready to be framed (or can be easily removed from the mat), bold signature, size is 4.5 x 7.25 inches (photo), total mat size is 10.1 x 12.75 inches, in very good condition.

Brazilian prolific composer (1887-1959), who was also a conductor and one of the most important Brazilian composers of the 20th century.   Nice photograph signed and inscribed by the composer, dated in Rio de Janeiro in 1935. Photo is also signed on the front and stamped on verso by photographer Wilenski, Buenos Aires. Size is 7.5 x 9 inches, jagged borders, scratches around several parts, not affecting the signature or his image, in very good condition.

German composer (1900-1950), who was a leading stage composer in Germany and later moved to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1943, whose most famous work is The Threepenny Opera. Beautiful second-generation photo print signed by him. Size is 5 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition.