Directors, Impresarios, Librettists & Editors

Austrian-born American conductor (1905-1988) and opera house director, associated with the San Francisco opera in different positions from 1943 through 1981. Set of 2 typed letters signed with letterhead of the San Francisco Opera, each one has 1 page and 8.4 x 11 inches, folds, in very good condition.

Italian musical bibliographer and researcher (1856-1930). Autograph letter in Italian (untranslated) signed by him and dated 1915. Size is 4.3 x 7.25 inches, 1 page, in excellent condition.

Canadian-born American radio broadcaster (1920-2016), especially known for his hosting of the Metropolitan Opera matinee broadcasts from 1975-2004 and narration of introductions to Wagner's Ring Cycle. Signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 3.5 x 3.75 inches, in excellent condition. 

Canadian-born American radio broadcaster (1920-2016), especially known for his hosting of the Metropolitan Opera matinee broadcasts from 1975-2004 and narration of introductions to Wagner's Ring Cycle. Signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 4.75 x 6.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

French journalist (1864-1938), agent, theater manager, theatrical impresario, and playwright whose career connects many of the best-known incidents and personalities of Belle Epoque Paris. Autograph note in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, February 2, 1921, addressed to a gentleman concerning fees for conductors. Size is 5.3 x 6.8 inches, 1 page, folds, overall rust tone, in very good condition.

Soviet opera director and actor (1895-1964), awarded several Stalin Prizes and Peoples Artist award in 1958.Signed photo, shown as himself. Size is 3.5 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.

 American theater producer, impresario, director, and playwright (1853-1931), the first to adapt the short story of Madama Butterfly for the stage, among many other achievements in his career. Fantastic black-and-white photograph signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment, dated 1916, shown in an interview with journalist Wendell Phillips Dodge (1883-1976).  Size is 13.6 x 9.75 inches, minor creases, mounting traces on verso, in very good condition. 

American theater producer, impresario, director and playwright (1853-1931), the first to adapt the short story of Madama Butterfly for the stage, among many other achievements in his career. Signed photo, shown reading, inscribed and dated in 1928, minor silvering and mounting marks on verso, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a luxurious program for a performance of his play "The Merchant of Venice", presented by him in New York, 1922. Size is 9.5 x 12 inches and 0.75 inches thick, 174 pages with many photo illustrations, in very good condition. See scan of title page.

French music critic and musicologist (1858-1930).  Group of 2 autograph notes signed, each on a 3.5 x 4.5 inch card, both dated in 1888, written in French and sold untranslated. Clear handwriting and signature. Both in excellent condition, not sold separately. 

French impresario (1822-1891). Autograph letter in French signed by him, dated in Paris, November 13th, 1855, addressed to writer Paul de Saint-Victor (1827-1881): “…je viens vous remercier du concours que vous voulez bien me prêter pour les fêtes musicales que je me prépare à donner dans le Palais de l’Industrie…”. In 1855, Ber was hired by the government to organize, on the initiative of Prince Napoleon, Napoleon III's first cousin, a large-scale concert in the Palais de l'Exposition for the day of the solemn distribution of awards. The concert was repeated for a paying audience on 16 and 24 November 1855.  Size is 5.6 x 8.3 inches, 1 pgae, folds, creases, letterhead, in overall good condition.

French comedian, theater manager and opera house director (1834-1899). 2 autograph letters signed, both on the official letterhead of the Theatre National De L'Opera, Paris. Each are 2 folded pages, written in French and sold untranslated, larger letter is 5.5 x 8.25 inches with small crease on bottom right, smaller letter is 4.25 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately.

French music critic (1834-1880), journalist, and music historian. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, September 1, 1872, addressed to a gentleman: “…Vous devez avoir connaissance de la correspondances universelle (autographiée) publié depuis une douzaine de jours par M. de Poggenpohl…”. Open size 11.3 x 8.6 inches, 3 written pages in one folded sheet, creases, folds, tape residues, in overall very good condition.

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972).  Program for a performance of Verdi's Aida at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on December 29, 1965, signed by him on the cover. Also signed by Mary Ellen Pracht and an unidentified other. Size is 8.1 x 10.8 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition.

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972).  Set of 2 typed letters signed on the official letterhead of the Metropolitan Opera, one dated in 1963 and the other in 1971. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972). Front cover page of Newsweek Magazine's September 19th, 1966 issue highlighting the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera house at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, signed by him at the top of the page. Size is 8.25 x 11 inches, in very good condition. Also included: 1 page typed letter on official company letterhead, handsigned by him, dated in 1952. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, small creases and folds, otherwise in good condition. Not sold separately. 

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972).  Signed photo, inscribed and dated in pencil on verso by another hand in 1966. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972).  Signed photograph, inscribed to the famous soprano Lily Pons and dated in 1960. Size is 8 x 10 inches, very small creases on bottom left and right, otherwise in excellent condition.

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972). Set of 1 signed postcard photograph of him, size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in very good condition, and 1 page typed letter on official company letterhead, hand-signed by him, dated in 1950. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, very slight paper loss on top left, otherwise in very good condition. Not sold separately. 

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972). Time Magazine, September 23rd, 1966 issue in commemoration of the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Center, boldly signed by him on the cover. Full magazine with all pages and covers

Austrian opera impresario (1902-1997), well-remembered for his 22 years as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1950-1972).  Typed letter in English signed by him, dated May 5, 1964, with the letterhead of the Metropolitan Opera, replying to a lady about the fair and performances. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, 1 page, folds, overall rust tone, otherwise in excellent condition.

German bass (1887-1965), actor and also manager and director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin between 1935 and 1945.  Large signed photo shown as himself, inscribed and dated in 1929, Berlin.  Total mat size is 10.3 x 14.1 inches (actual photo is 8.9 x 11.3 inches), minor cracks, silvering, otherwise in very good condition

French impresario, writer and journalist (1851-1932), was the Secretary General of the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris. Set of 2 autograph letters signed on that company's official letterhead, 1 is three pages, dated in 1901, 4 x 5 inches, in excellent condition, the other undated letter is 2 pages written on both sides of a 4 x 5.25 inch card, also in excellent condition. Both written in French and sold untranslated. Not sold separately. 

French impresario, writer, and journalist (1851-1932), was the Secretary General of the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris. Lot of three autograph letters and one note on his card signed by him in French (untranslated), dated between 1888 and 1897. Letters are addressed to the literate and writer Émile Aucante (1822-1908) and concern fees to be paid, concert tickets, and other matters.  The autograph letters are 5.5 x 8.5 inches each, 1 written page each; card is 3.9 x 2.3 inches, punched. All in very good condition. One original envelope is INCLUDED.  

Italian-American impresario (b.1961), baritone, and singing teacher. Rare black-and-white photograph signed and inscribed by him in English dated May 1, 1936; ink-stamped on verso by Alfred and Fabris (Los Angeles). Size is 6.9 x 9.5 inches (trimmed from a larger format), in excellent condition.

French opera impresario, who was also the director of some important theaters such as the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris. Beautiful cabinet photograph signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment on verso dated 1903; photograph by H. Rentz & F. Schrader (St. Petersburg). Size is 4.2 x 6.4 inches, spotted rust stains, in overall very good condition.

French theater and opera manager (1858-1959), autograph letter signed, 2 folded pages on official stationary with the letterhead of the Theatre Municipal, dated in 1900. 2 folded pages, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8.5 inches, slight rust on edges but in generally good condition.

English theater manager and opera librettist (1796-1860), who wrote librettos for several of Michael Balfe's operas including The Bohemian Girl and The Maid of Artois. Autograph letter signed, 1 page, size is 4.25 x 7 inches, slight wear on edges, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian impresario (1798-1880), librettist, and singer. Autograph letter in Italian (untranslated) signed by him, dated 1876, addressed to the impresario Innocenzo Canedi, about singers and their engagements for opera performances.  Size is 5.2 x 8.2 inches, 1 pages, in overall very good condition.

English writer and music critic, whose full name was Sir John Frederick Neville Cardus (1888-1975), considered one of the foremost critics of his generation, was honored with a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1964 and given a knighthood in 1967. Autograph letter signed, on 1 carbon page, written in English, 8 x 10 inches, small crease on bottom right, otherwise in excellent condition. 

French actress and director of the annual events at the Theatre Antique, Orange (1865-1934). Lot of 1 Autograph Letter Signed, 2 pages, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, 1 Autograph Note Signed, 3.5 x 4.5 inches (a dinner invitation) and 1 business card, 2 x 3.5 inches, inscribed but with no signature. All written in French, sold untranslated. In excellent condition, items not sold separately. 

French opera manager (1852-1938), head of the Paris Opera Comique by 1898. Autograph letter signed and dated in 1914 in Paris, with letterhead of the Opera Comique, 1 page, in french, sold untranslated. Size is 5.3 x 8.4 inches, in very good condition.

French opera manager (1852-1938), head of the Paris Opera Comique from 1898 -1913, as well as a comedian, playwright and librettist. A lot of Three Autograph letters signed each with the letterhead of the Opera Comique, Paris.  One 1 page letter dated in 1898, another a 2 page letter, also dated in 1898, both 5 x 8 inches. The third letter dated in 1909,  is 5.25 x 8.25 inches. All written in french, sold untranslated, and in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

French theatre director (1852-1938) and opera director, nephew of the celebrated librettist Michel Carré. His original printed business card with a short autograph note in French signed and dated by him in 1923. Size is 4 x 2.5 inches, pinholes, in overall very good condition.

French opera impresario (1825-1897) and director of the Paris Opera Comique. Nice set of 3 autographed letters signed by him, in French (sold untranslated), each of the letters is on the official stationery of the Opera-Comique, Paris. Two of the letters are undated and 2 pages long, with each page 5.25 x 8.25 inches in size; the third is dated 1896, 4 pages in length, 5 x 8 inches in size. All are in very good condition.  SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French opera impresario (1825-1897) and director of the Paris Opera Comique. Autograph note signed and dated in 1876 in Paris, in french, sold untranslated, with letterhead of the Opera comique, 1 page. Size is 5 x 8 inches, folds, in very good condition.

American impresario (1923-2009), General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera from 1972 to 1975, later Dean of the Columbia University School of the Arts and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City. Signed photograph, inscribed, and dated in 1975. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition. 

French playwright (1820-1880), brother of the famous French playwright and librettist Adolphe Choler. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, embossed, written in French and sold untranslated. Size of each page is 5.25 x 8.5 inches, some rust at the top of the page, otherwise in very good condition.

French literary figure (1840-1913) and director of the Theatre Francais. Set of 2 autograph letters written in French and signed by him.  One, on Feb 3rd, 1892, 2 pages, 5.3 x 7.2 inches; the other, with no date, 1 page, 5.25 x 8.25 inches.. ALSO INCLUDED is an autograph letter signed by French journalist Leo Claretie (1862-1924), 2 pages, dated on Nov 11th, 1899, 4.75 x 6.7 inches, in excellent condition.

Austrian and naturalized American theatrical manager and director (1855-1909), managed several German and American theatres, including New York's Metropolitan Opera from 1903 until his retirement in 1908. Signed 2.5 x 3.5 inch card with bold handwriting and signature, mounted onto a larger album page of 8 x 10.5 inches which also contains a unsigned half tone photo and brief biography. Attractive vintage item in excellent condition. 

Portuguese-born theatrical impresario (1861-1936), closely linked to the musical scene of Buenos Aires since 1895 and Director of Teatro Colon. Black-and-white photo postcard signed by him, shown young. Sie is 3.5 x 5.4 inches, in very good condition. Rare!  

Italian librettist, writer and journalist (1853-1941), wrote librettos for Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz and Giordano's Mala Vita as well as a biography of the great Italian tenor Enrico Caruso published in 1938. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, written on both sides of a 8.5 x 11 inch document, dated in Naples in 1922 and sent to the author of another Caruso biography congratulating him on his work. Composed in Italian and sold with a 2 page typed English translation, 8.25 x 11.75 inches, both documents in excellent condition. Rare historic item!

Lithuanian-born ballet impresario (1888-1951), very important for running a ballet company with many former members from the Ballet Russes. Typed letter with his letterhead and signed by him, thanking a donor, dated in Covent Garden, October 9, 1937. Size is 8.4 x 10.75 inches, in excellent condition.

French music publisher (1825-1888), first publisher of Bizet and Berlioz. Autograph letter in French signed by him as “Choudens, Editeur Rue St. Honoré 265”, dated in Paris, September 8, 1857, to Francesco Regli (1802-1866):  "... Having the desire to publish various dramatic works by M. [Felice] Romani (1788-1865) I come to ask you to offer him in my name for each libretto such as Il Pirata, Norma, Beatrice di Tenda, Elisir d'Amore, I Capuleti, Parisina, Sonnambula, La Straniera, etc.; a sum of two hundred francs. Following the example of my colleagues, who have not even indicated the name of the illustrious poet in their editions, I shall be able to publish the libretto mentioned above. But as a matter of principle, I don't want to publish works before I have offered compensation to the author...". Size is 8.2 x 10.4 inches, 1 written page, folds, creases, some damage over the upper border, in overall good condition. 

French music historian, musicologist, and music critic (1861-1942), autograph letter signed, 1 page written in French, sold untranslated. 5.25 x 8.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

American impresario, tenor and teacher (1894-1972), founded the Opera Guild of Greater Miami (now Florida Grand Opera) in 1941. Small lot with 3 autograph postcards signed, 2 typed letters signed (with letterhead from the Opera Guild of Greater Miami), one typed note signed with his nickname ("Lee"), and 3 unsigned photos of him (including one as Rodolfo in La Boheme). Various sizes, all in very good condition.

German tenor and impresario (1866-1932), joint manager with Giulio Gatti of the Metropolitan Opera from 1908 to 1910. Autograph note signed, 1 page, in French, sold untranslated. Size is 6 x 5 inches, mounting traces on verso, folds, in very good condition.

German tenor and opera impresario (1866-1932), who from 1908 through 1910 was a joint manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Signed typed letter, dated in New York in 1905, to Steinway & Sons, praising the pianos and thanking for their courtesies during his recent engagements in the US. One page, 8 x 10.5 inches, this is the carbon copy of the typed letter, hand signed in black ink by the artist at the bottom. Item has folds, but is in very good condition.

Italian composer (1907-1975), Artistic Director of the Chicago Lyric Opera from 1958 until his death. Autograph letter in Italian (untranslated) signed by him and dated 1937 giving support and condolences to a friend. Size is 8.3 x 11.2 inches approx., Arena di Verona letterhead, central fold, missing upper-left corner, in very good condition.