Early signed photograph of the great pianist, ca. 1965, who has inscribed "To Paul / V. Ashkenazy" in black ink to the upper left. S. Hurok Presents stamp to verso. In very fine condition. 7.25 x 9.5 inches (18.4 x 24.1 cm.). Read More...
Original Lotte Meitner-Graf of London photograph of the celebrated Greek pianist, who has penned her name in black ink alone. "S. Hurok Presents" stamp and typed caption reading "Gina Bachauer - signed after her recital in Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. on February 27th, 1969" to verso. Very light tear to lower margin, overall in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Grouping of items relating to the German pianist, including a rare plaster casting of his hand, an original Kodak photograph of Backhaus in his older age, and a small volume of beautifully printed gravure photographs from the "Die Grossen Interpreten" series (Roger Hauert & A.-H. Eichmann, Geneva: Verlag R. Kister, 1957), inscribed to the ffe in pencil by Backhaus "Bitte, zurück an Fr. Erna Hanfstaengl" ("please return to Fr. Erna Hanfstaengl") and with a trimmed sheet of Grand Hotel Continental München stationery adhered to the inside front cover, inscribed and signed in blue ink by the pianist "Fraulein Erna Hanfstaengl / von Backhaus". Minor chipping to the plaster casting (specifically around the fingerprint areas); overall in fine condition. Read More...
Large format original portrait photograph of the German pianist, who has boldly signed and inscribed to the lower mount in ink: "My most warm regards to my esteemed friend Frau Hofrat Hanfstaengl / Wilhelm Backhaus" and dated May 1, 1936. In fine condition, mount with verso borders reinforced, signed by the photographer lower right in pencil "Veresky"(?). Portrait 6.8 x 9.25 inches (17.3 x 23.5 cm.); mounted to an overall size of 10.25 x 13.3 inches (26 x 33.8 cm.). Read More...
Portrait postcard photograph of the Austrian-born Dutch violinist and pedagogue, who taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory for more than four decades. Moderate silvering to edges, pinholes along the top and bottom margins. Overall in fine condition. 3.25 x 5.25 inches (8.2 x 13.3 cm.).
Uncommon early signed photograph of the German-born American pianist and founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio at the piano. Pressler has signed and inscribed in ink to the Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission, Hertha A. Duemling, dated "Jan. 1949". Mounted and fitted to rigid board, else in fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
Original F.L. Lay's of Boston CDV photograph signed boldly in the lower blank margin by the German-born violinist, composer and teacher who in 1867 founded and directed the Boston Conservatory of Music. 6 x 10 cm. Fine.
Signed doubleweight Lotte Meitner-Graf of London photograph of the important American pianist, a student of Rosina Lehvinne and dedicatee of Barber's piano concerto, who has inscribed "To Paul / with best wishes / John Browning" in black ink to the lower margin. Photographer's stamp to verso. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Original CDV photograph of the Norwegian violinist, showing him standing with violin and bow in hand. Photographer unidentified. Fine. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.4 x 10.7 cm).
Uncommon early Gerschel of Paris postcard photograph of the young Casals, issued by the London branch of Breitkopf & Härtel. The great cellist is shown posing in a tuxedo with his instrument. Moderate silvering to margins, overall in fine condition. 3.25 x 5.25 inches (8.2 x 13.3 cm.).
Concert program from a Madrid performance with the Orquesta Nacional in December of 1958, signed by conductor Jesús Arámbarri, composer Cristóbal Halffter, and cellist Gaspar Cassadó, who was featured soloist for the world premier of Halffter's Partita. The performance also included works by Gluck, Schumann, and Stravinsky. 12 pp. In fine condition. 6 x 8 inches (15.2 x 20.4 cm.).
Original print of a 1926 drawing by M. Vernarra, showing Cortot seated at the piano and with his facsimile signature beneath. On the verso, a drawing of actor Louis Jouvet in various poses. Single leaf, one edge rough, apparently this having been removed from a volume of similar illustrations depicting notable musicians, composers, and conductors. Some foxing; overall fine. 10 x 13 inches (25 x 33 cm.).
Intimate portrait photograph of the beloved English pianist, who has inscribed "To Paul, / with every good wish / Clifford Curzon" in blue ink to the lower margin. In fine condition. 7 x 9.5 inches (17.8 x 24.1 cm.).
Brahms’s Cello & Piano Sonatas Op. 38 and 99, performed by Jacqueline Du Pré & Daniel Barenboim. First German pressing, Electrola EMI SME 91720 12" LP signed by the cellist and her conductor-pianist husband on the cover verso of their 1968 recording. A fine example of an uncommon signature from the cellist who died so tragically young. Overall in fine condition. Read More...
75.
[Instrumentalists]
Gavazzeni, Gianandrea. (1909–1996). "I find myself quite embarrassed, mortified, upset" - Collection of Correspondence
Collection of five typed letters signed, two autograph postcards, and a telegram from the Italian pianist and conductor to Professor Irma Antonetto of the Associazione Culturale Italiana, regarding various attempts to schedule a speaking engagement. Gavazzeni proposed to give a talk on "the psychological experiences of an orchestra conductor," but his busy schedule as principal conductor of La Scala made it difficult for him to find time. A TLS dated 10 September 1957 reads, in part and translated from the Italian, "At [the end of March], I should have two weeks off from La Scala. However, as a precaution, keep a week in reserve, since La Scala sometimes changes its calendar." And indeed, it did. The next letter, dated 3 March 1958, begins "Unfortunately I'm in trouble...the calendar of March at La Scala, as it has solidified in the last few days, has me assisting with Dargomyzhsky's The Stone Guest at La Piccola Scala on the 21st, in charge on the 22nd, and conducting the first performance on the 24th. Immediately after that, I start the rehearsals of Il turco in Italia at the Piccola and Anna Bolena at the 'grande.' During April, both those operas and the reprise of Butterfly until the 24th; on the 25th I leave for Vienna where I will remain at the State Opera for a good part of May. I find myself quite embarrassed, mortified, upset...if once again you have clemency." Read More...
Large signed Fernand de Gueldre of Chicago halftone photograph of the violinist who was founder of the Gordon String Quartet and Chicago Symphony concertmaster from 1921 to 1930. Gordon has signed and inscribed to Charles Drumheller, tenor and longtime rehearsal pianist at the Metropolitan and Chicago Lyric Opera. "To my dear 'Yom Kifur'[?] - / Maestro Charles Drumheller for his superb playing of 'Oh my maz-zel-tov' / Best wishes / 1923 / Jacques Gordon." The words "Oh my mazel tov" appear below three measures of music in 2/4 beside a cartoon portrait sketch. Wear to left margin and lower left corner, including losses to portion of the inscription, else in fine condition. 9 x 12.25 inches (22.9 x 31.1 cm.).
Autograph signature from the Ukrainian-born pianist and pedagogue, who has boldly signed in green ink to a trimmed portion of a concert program, subsequently mounted to an autograph album leaf together with a halftone photograph. The partial program listing includes pieces by Brahms, Gould, Strauss, and Liszt. In fine condition. 6.75 x 5 inches (17.1 x 12.7 cm.). Read More...
Concert program from a Madrid performance with the Orquesta Nacional in February of 1959, signed by conductor Iturbi, who led the ensemble, pianist Soriano, who was featured as soloist for Mozart's Concerto No. 23 in A major, and composer Palau, whose "Tríptico catedralicio" opened the performance. 12 pp. In fine condition. 6 x 8 inches (15.2 x 20.4 cm.).
Uncommon early signed Lotte Meitner-Graf of London photograph of the important pianist, who has inscribed "To Paul / Byron Janis" in black ink. In very fine condition. 7.5 x 9.75 inches (19 x 24.8 cm.). Read More...
Postcard photograph of the important string quartet, showing violinist Joseph Joachim, cellist Robert Haussmann, violist Emmanuel Wirth, and violinist Karl Halir, all of whom are identified to the lower margin. In fine condition. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (13.3 x 8.2 cm.). Read More...