Unsigned Opera Programs & Posters

Unsigned program page for a  January 1935 concert at the Grosser Musikvereins-Saal in Vienna featuring a wide range of leading opera and operetta performers, composers and conductors. Among the most prominent featured artists are the Austro-Hungarian and Romanian tenor and actor Joseph Schmidt (1904-1942), performing lieder composed by the leading Austrian tenor Richard Tauber (1891-1948), conducted by the composer. Additional featured performers include the Czech soprano Jarmilia Novotna and composers Emmerich Kalman and Oskar Strauss (each of these composers conducting their own pieces). Size is 5.75 x 9 inches, in excellent condition. 

Playbill announce for the first performances of these operas in their new version, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Size is 11 x 15 inches, in very good condition.

Program for a performance of Victor Massé's "Paul and Virginia" featuring the American soprano in the 1870s (no specific date mentioned). Size is 6.75 x 10.25 inches, full program with all pages and covers, loose covers, otherwise in very good condition.

Set of two original vintage programs for performances of Emma Abbott, no dates, one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 4 pages, 7.1 x 10.4 inches, in good condition, the second is a libretto program for a performance with pianist, in New York, several pages, 6.8 x 10.1 inches, in fair condition. Sold together, not sold separately.

Small collection with 30+ full programs for performances at the Academie Nationale de Musique et de Danse, Paris, period 1920-1938, with most programs being from the early 1930s. Many important artists, see scans of the cast pages, and one cover as example. Most programs are for opera performances, a few for ballet (program is in several pages). Collection includes the program for the world premiere of Alfred Bruneau´s opera "Virginie" (1931). Each program is complete with all pages and covers, most are 5.25 x 7 inches, all in very good condition.

Beautiful collection of 10 playbills announcing opera performances and plays at the Academy of Music, New York, during the 1860s. Sizes range between 4 x 9 inches and 4.5 x 12 inches, in very good condition.

Fantastic collection of 13 unsigned concert programs featuring the celebrated American contralto at Teatro Politeama (Buenos Aires, Argentina) between 1937 and 1938. Sizes range from 5.7 x 8.4 inches to 7 x 9.9 inches, some stains, all in overall very good condition.

Group of 5 programs for opera performances at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, Argentina, all in 1931. Full programs, with all pages and covers, different operas, each performance with famous conductor Ernest Ansermet at the podium. Each program is 8 x 11.25 inches, in very good condition. See cans.

Colorful flyer promoting the 1939 Arena di Verona Festival and announcing the performance of Verdi's "Nabucco", Puccini's "La Bohème", Donizetti's "La Favorita" and Wagner's "Tannhäuser",  from July 24 until August 15. Size is 3 x 3 inches, rhomboid-shaped, in excellent condition.

Full program for the 11th performance of Ariane, opera by Jules Massenet, at the Theatre National de L´Opera in Paris, Nov 30th, 1906. This is exactly a month after the world premiere of this opera in that theater, with the same cast (Breval, Muratore, Grandjean, Delmas, with Paul Vidal conducting).  Full program with all pages and covers, 6.25 x 9.5 inches, minor stains, in very good condition. See scans of first page, front cover and central (cast) page.

Playbill for a performance of Auber's Opera "Le Domino Noir" (in Hungarian "Fekete Domino"), starring soprano Henriette Carls and tenor Zsigmond Joob, probably for its premiere in Hungary in 1842 (5 years after its world premiere in Paris, 1837).  Size is 12.25 x 15.6 inches, in very good condition.

Wilhelm Backhaus and Fritz Kreisler, Maggie Teyte, May 10 about 1908-1910, recital in London, Scarlatti Chopin Schubert Henselt Saint Saens Liszt, 2 pages

Program for the world premiere of Samuel Barber's "Vanessa" at The Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on January 15, 1958, starring Eleanor Steber. Size is 6.5 x 9 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition

Set of 2 unsigned programs from Teatro del Liceo, Barcelona, Spain, featuring soprano Maria Barrientos: 1) a program for a farewell performance by Barrientos, April 1st, 1913, Act I from Traviata and Act III from Barbiere, Haendel variations in Catalan language and first part of Act IV from Lucia di Lammermoor. Full program with all 16 pages plus covers, 6.75 x 4.5 inches, in very good condition. 2) a season program, 1915, featuring all the operas and singers at Teatro del Liceo, with her name on the front cover and on page 2. Full program with all pages and covers, 4.9 x 7.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Playbill for a performance of Wagner's last opera Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival on August 8, 1901, featuring Ernest van Dyck, Marie Wittich, Rudolf Berger, Paul Knüpfer, and Robert Blass. Size is 12.5 x 18.5 inches, 1 page, folds, minor cracks, stains, in overall good condition.

Large-sized program for a performance of Wagner's last opera "Parsifal" at the Bayreuth Festspiele in 1884, featuring Amalia Materna, and Hermann Winkelmann (the original Parsifal) with many illustrations and information in German. Size is 11.5 x 15.8 inches, 60 pages plus covers, some stains and wear on the cover, inside in excellent condition.

Edinburgh Festival 1949. Full festival program with complete performance details. Thomas Beecham, John Barbirolli, Ernst Bloch conducting own works, Ernest Ansermet, Rafael Kubelik, Adolf Busch, Rudolf Serkin, Bruno Walter and Kathleen Ferrier (Mahler Kindertotenlieder), André Cluytens and Ginette Neveu, Monique de la Bruchollerie, Busch Quartet,  recital by Ginette Neveu and Jean Neveu, recital by Kathleen Ferrier and Bruno Walter at the piano. Opera performances conducted by Vitorio Gui with Ljuba Welitsch, Suzanne Danco, Sena Jurinac

Group of 6 full programs for opera performances at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Thomas Beecham conducting, all from 1958. Full programs, with all pages and covers, each one is 6 x 9 inches, in very good condition.

Full program for a performance of Carmen, with Thomas Beecham conducting, July 24th, 1958. Size is 6 x 9 inches, in excellent condition. Cast includes Jean Madeira, Ramon Vinay.

Fine and original libretto for the performance of "Lily of Killarney" by Jules Benedict. Printed in Baltimore, by The Sun Printing Establishments, 1874. Size is 5.2 x 8.8 inches, full program with all pages and covers, evident wear, some cracks, in overall good condition.

Fine almanach issued by the Berlin State Opera for the years 1936-1939 with over 300 illustrations and photos, and information. Size is 7 x 9.7 inches, +100 pages, blue covers, minor damage over the spine, in very good condition.

Austrian-born British opera impresario (1902-1997), remembered notably as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera between 1950 and 1972. A special edition of the Opera News magazine issued in 1972 to celebrate the career of the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera with many articles, photographs, and information about his career. Size is 8.25 x 11 inches, 76 pages plus soft covers, in excellent condition.

Unsigned Time Magazine featuring Rudolf Bing, the General Manager of The Metropolitan Opera House for 22 years (1950-1972) on the front cover, celebrating the opening of The Met in his new building at the Lincoln Center in September 1966 . Size is 8.25 x 11 inches, full magazine, in very good condition.

Full program with all pages and covers, plus 2 ticket stubs, for a performance of Don Giovanni with the Vienna State Opera on tour in London, conducted by Karl Bohm. Size is 7.3 x 9.4 inches, 28 pages, in excellent condition.

Set of 2 programs for the performance of Wagner's operas "Das Rheingold" and "Der Götterdämmerung" at the Bolshoi Theater in 1912, in Russian. Size is 8.6 x 11.5 inches each, full programs with all pages and covers, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a series of copies of the cast page with the translation of the singers' names. Rare!

Program for the celebration of Giuseppe Verdi´s birth centennial, in Bologna, April 1913. Performance of Verdi´s Requiem, with Celestina Boninsegna as the soprano soloist. Full program with all 8 pages including covers, 5.6 x 9 inches, in very good condition.

Playbill for the upcoming performances of the Italian Opera Company of singers at Teatro 18 de Julio in Montevideo, Uruguay, 1910 starring the famous soprano Celestina Boninsegna.  Size is 9.2 x 21 inches, minor stains and cracks.

Unsigned playbill announcement for a concert at Teatro Comunale on April 19th, 1912, with the tenor Giuseppe Borgatti and the Orchestrale Bolognese under the baton of Fernando Luizzi.  Size is 8.4 x 11.75 inches, 1 page, tape repair on verso, in very good condition.

Playbill for a concert recital, presented by the Italian coloratura soprano Olimpia Boronat (1859 or 1867 – 1934), in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1900. Although she sang around the world, she was particularly associated with  Russia and later married a member of the Polish aristocracy. Size of unfolded item is roughly 8 x 20 inches, slight rip and tears but almost no rust. Very rare and quite historic item!

A fantastic, truly unique collection of clips from programs for performances of opera, music and theater, Boston, period 1879 through 1889. All clips are mounted on album pages numbered 2 through 93 (page 1 was blank and is missing).  A total of 92 pages full of original clips from programs, some from contemporary newspapers with comments about performances or the passing away of artists. Program clips from many different venues, including very early performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1891, clips start just a month after the Orchestra´s debut concert in October 1881). Many important soloists and founder Georg Henschel as conductor in many concerts. Each page is 10.5 x 14.2 inches, in excellent condition.  This is a fantastic window in time to the cultural scene in Boston during the period 1879-1889.

A wonderful collection of clips from programs for performances of opera, music and theater, Boston, period 1884 through 1890. All clips are mounted on album pages numbered 1 through 98. A total of 98 pages full of original clips from programs, and from contemporary newspapers with comments about performances or the passing away of artists. Program clips from many different venues, including very early performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (founded in 1891, clips start just a month after the Orchestra´s debut concert in October 1881). Many important soloists and founder Georg Henschel as conductor in many concerts. Each page is 10.5 x 14.2 inches, in excellent condition.  This is a fantastic window in time to the cultural scene in Boston during the period 1884-1890.

Bound volume of 24 programs for concerts of the BSO, conducted by Emil Paur, season 1896-97. Programs are almost complete, in excellent condition, bound without their original covers. A few pages with advertisements at the end may also be missing, but all the lines notes and program pages are present.  Concerts include performances with soloists such as pianists Teresa Carreño, Rafael Joseffy, Arthur Whiting performing his own piano music, Martinus Sieveking, George M. Proctor, Max Heinrich, Richard Burmeister - violinists Franz Kniesel, T. Adamowski, Carl Halir, C. M. Loeffler - cellists Leo Schulz, Alwin Schroeder premiering Dvorak´s Cello concerto in Boston - singers Giuseppe Campanari, Nellie Melba, Paul Plançon, Emma Eames, Lena Little and Isidor Schnitzler. Book is 5.75 x 8.5 inches, and 1.5 inches thick, covers and binding are in excellent condition. Programs can not be sold separately. See photos of the spine, and a few pages inside as example.

Bound volume of 38 programs for concerts of the BSO, conducted by Wilhelm Gericke, seasons 1898-1905, all at the Infantry Hall in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Programs are almost complete, in excellent condition, bound without their original covers. A few pages with advertisements at the end may also be missing, but all the lines notes and program pages are present.  Concerts include performances with soloists such as pianists Teresa Carreño, Leopold Godowski, Harold Bauer, Ernst von Dohnanyi, Adele aus der Ohe, Carl Baermann, Edith Thompson, Fanny Bloomfield-Zeisler - violinists Norma Neruda, Fritz Kreisler, Franz Kniesel (2), Willy Hess, Enrique Fernandez-Arbos, Leonora Jackson, Timothee Adamowski (2) - cellists Alwin Schroeder (2), Elsa Ruegger, Jean Gerardy - singers Johanna Gadski, Giuseppe Campanari, Josephine Jacoby, Theodore Byard, Ben Davis (2), Gertrude May Stein, Agnes Janson, Evta Kileski, Julia Heinrich, Electa Gifford, Robert Hosea.  Book is 6 x 9 inches, and 1.6 inches thick, covers and binding are in excellent condition. Programs can not be sold separately. See photos of the spine, and a few pages inside as example.

Famous German tenor (1804-1860), a protegé of Spontini, Breiting sang at the most important theaters in Germany in his time, and in London, Prague and in France, eventually developing symptoms of a mental disease that ended his career and his life early.  Extraordinary, unique collection of 23 original, vintage playbills from the 1830s, 40s and 50s - all opera performances listing his name in the cast. Of the total of 23, most (16 of them) are 9 x 14 inches or so, 4 playbills are large, poster-like size (up to 18 x 24 inches) and 3 are smaller size (5 x 8 inches approx.). In good to very good condition, all have folds, some rust stains, minor losses, but overall very good, with the exception of the large Covent Garden playbill 1842 that is in poor condition. Many rare playbills, including a few very early performances of some operas, such as Tannhauser. Also included are 18 newspapers or magazines from the same time period, mentioning him. See scans. Full magazines or newspapers (except one). A total of  41 items, all are scanned.

German tenor (1804-1860). Fine set of 5 vintage playbills that include his name for opera performance in the 1840s including Robert Le Diable (1841 and 1844), La Juive (1840), Les Huguenots, plus a musical theater play in Germany (1846). Different sizes, sold as they are (2 of them in poor condition). SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Program for the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's opera "Billy Budd" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on December 1, 1951, starring British tenor Peter Pears as Captain Bere and conducted by the composer himself. Size is 8.5 x 10.7 inches, 4 pages, in excellent condition.

Unsigned program for a performance of chamber music by the British composer as a pianist accompanying the British tenor Pears at the Salzburg Festival on August 18th, 1952. Size is 5.75 x 8.25 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition.

Program for a concert at Buckingham Palace in London, on June 3, 1887, featuring Emma Albani, Lillian Nordica, Barton McGuckin, and others. Size is 7.6 x 9.2 inches, central fold, in very good condition. 

Program for an opera recital at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 1887, featuring Adelina Patti(?), Lillian Nordica, Emma Albani, and others. Size is 7.9 x 9.8 inches, folds, in very good condition.

Unsigned playbill from a June 27, 1883 operatic concert presented at Buckingham Palace, London, for Her Royal Majesty the Queen. Among the participating performers are such legendary nineteenth century artists as Pauline Lucca, Zelia Trebelli-Bettini, and Jean De Reszke. Beautifully embossed. Size is 7. 5 x 9 inches, vintage item in excellent condition!

Group of 13 programs for opera performances at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 1935 and 1945. Full programs, with all pages and covers, different operas, each performance with famous conductor Fritz Busch at the podium. Different sizes, with most programs being 6.25 x 9 inches in size, in very good condition. See cans.

Program of the debut of both artists at the Metropolitan Opera House for a performance of Gounod's Faust, on December 22nd, 1965, unsigned.  Size is 8 x 10.9 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition.

Program for a performance of Gounod's "Faust" at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, on February 15, 1902, featuring Emma Calvé, Andreas Dippel, Giuseppe Campanari, and others, under the baton of Armondo Seppilli. Size is 9.4 x 11.6 inches, full program with all pages and covers, slight damage on the cover, otherwise in good condition.

Full program for a concert with the Pittsburgh Orchestra, for both dates November 3rd and 5th, 1898. Famous baritone Giuseppe Campanari sings music by Mozart and Gounod, Victor Herbert conducts. Program also includes music by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens and Wagner. Full program with all 28 pages and covers, 6.25 x 9.5 inches, minor cracks on front cover, otherwise in very good condition.

Performers are Emma Calve, Bauermeister, Ancona, Engle. Announcements for upcoming performances with many Met stars, 4 pages

Program for a performance of Bizet's opera "Carmen" produced by The Metropolitan Opera on tour in Chicago, at The Auditorium, on February 25, 1899, starring Zelie de Lussan, Johanna Gadski, Maurizio Bensaude, and Albert Alvarez. Size is 5 x 7.4 inches, 4 pages, in very good condition.

Program from Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a performance of Leoncavallo´s opera "Pagliacci" on August 5th, 1917. Caruso performed in the role of Canio, his signature role. This was the last performance he made of Pagliacci in Argentina. Caruso performed in Argentina in the late 1890s, when he was very young and before his great debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1903. He became there a superstar performing many different roles, being Canio in Pagliacci the most famous. He went back to Argentina to perform at Teatro Colon during seasons 1915 and 1917, and unfortunately he never had the chance to return again after 1917. Caruso performed Pagliacci 5 times during the Teatro Colon 1915 season, and only 4 times during the 1917 season, making a total of only 9 performances of Pagliacci at Teatro Colon. These programs are quite a rarity (this is actually the only Teatro Colon / Pagliacci with Caruso program we´ve seen in years). Program is complete, with all pages and covers, and in excellent condition. Program is large format: 6 x 11 inches, in very good quality paper.

Unsigned program for a performance of Massenet's Manon at Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, on June 26th, 1917, starred by the celebrated Italian tenor, Ninon Vallin as Manon, and Armand Crabbé as Lescaut, under the baton of Gino Marinuzzi.  Size is 5.6 x 10.3 inches, in excellent condition.