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Sale 86
The Manuscripts, Collectibles & Space Auction
| The William K. Steiner Collection - Composers & Musicians |
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| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 51 |
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Schoenberg, Arnold (1874-1951) Austrian composer and painter. Autograph quotation signed, 3¼ x 8 5/8 in., March 1924. Two bars from "Das Buch der hängenden Gaerten," Op. 15, a fifteen-part song cycle for solo voice and piano, composed by Arnold Schoenberg between 1908 and 1909, setting to music poems of Stefan George. Inscription in French: "Ce sont les jardins 'suspendus.' - Mais pas tous; les…sont plûs [sic] difficiles (Adj.) Il [sic] se chantent en allemand plûs [sic] difficilement (Adv.)." Attractively matted with an image of Schoenberg and framed to an overall size of 16½ x 14½ in.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250.
Sotheby's, May 6, 1988, lot 465.
View details
| Realized
$1,860 |
Lot 52 |
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Schubert, Franz (1797-1828) Austrian composer, prolific in spite of his death at the age of 31. Autograph manuscript of the two songs "Minnelied," D. 429 ("Holder klingt der Vogelsang"), and "Die frühe Liebe," D.430 ("Schon im bunten Knabenkleide"), unsigned. A working manuscript, "Minnelied" notated in brown ink on four and five systems per page, of three staves each, "Die frühe Liebe" on two-stave systems, extended into the margin by the composer, with autograph corrections and alterations to the music and to the words, with the three remaining verses of the second song written out by the composer beneath the staves; being the complete first drafts of the settings of two poems by Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty, 2 pages, large 4to 12-stave paper, inscribed by the publisher C.A. Spina at the head of each song ("nicht gest[ochen]" and numbered in red crayon by Anton Diabelli, with extensive musicological notes by the scholar Johannes Wolf, in a blue cloth folder, [Vienna], May 1816. Minor tears, slightly affecting the text in the margins; a few marks and stains.
These songs were first published in the old "Complete Edition" of Schubert's works in 1885.
The present leaf (the two pages numbered "36" and "37" by Wolf), originally formed the beginning of a longer manuscript containing the songs "Seligkeit," "Blumenlied," "Klage," "Der Leidende," and a Canon, D. 371 and 431-433, which sold at Sotheby's, London, on Dec. 6, 1991, lot 20.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000.
Sotheby's, London, May 25, 2001, lot 187.
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| Realized
$40,800 |
Lot 53 |
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Schumann, Robert (1810-1856) One of the foremost German Romantic composers. Autograph musical quotation from the opening of the song "Die Nonne," op. 49 no. 3, signed and inscribed by the composer: "Zur Erinnerung an Robert Schumann mit Grüssen seiner Frau, die ist im Augenblick unmöglich zu schreiben [In memory of Robert Schumann with greetings from his wife, who is at the moment unable to write] Leipzig, d.25sten April 1843," comprising the first sixteen bars, for voice and piano, notated in brown ink, on three systems of three staves each, with autograph heading, "Die Nonne von Fröhlich." "Die Nonne" was written by Schumann (1810-1856) in 1840, his Liederjahr or year of song, and was published in 1844 as the third of the second volume of the "Romanzen und Balladen," Op. 49.
On verso is an autograph "Canone a Due," signed by Italian buffo opera singer Luigi Lablache, "Parigi 1. Aprile 1839. L. Lachache," beginning "Siamo in due che cosa far che cosa far…." Of interest is the fact that Lablache (1794-1858) sang in Mozart's "Requiem" at the funeral of Haydn (1809) and of Beethoven (1827), and that Schubert composed and dedicated three songs to him.
Two pages, oblong folio, removed from an album.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 25,000.
Sotheby's, London, 25 May '01, Lot 189.
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| Realized
$36,000 |
Lot 54 |
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Stokowski, Leopold (1882-1977) British conductor known for his showmanship and popularizing of classical music. Vintage original single-weight photograph signed in lower right corner in white India ink and inscribed and at upper left, "For…Krauss," 9½ x 7½ in. Written in pencil on lower edge of verso is, "Leopold Stokowski, 1716 Rittenhouse Street, Phila, Pa Aug 17, 1936." Some silvering to background and a few small spots.
Estimated Value $250 - 300.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$263 |
Lot 55 |
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Strauss, Johann, Jr. Carte de visite photograph inscribed and signed, "Herrn Th. Kretschmann zur freundlichen Erinnerung / Dankbarst, Johann Strauß /14 Okt. / 94." Translation: "For Mr. Thomas Kretschmann in friendly memory, Most Thankful, Johann Strauss / October 14, 1894," 4 1/8 x 2 5/8 in. Penned and signed in dark brown ink. A waist- up portrait by noted Austrian photographer Rudolf Krziwanek, who had offices in Vienna and Ischl. Thomas Kretschmann was responsible for collecting Strauss's works and publishing them.
Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899), known as "The Waltz King," was largely responsible for the popularity of the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other dance music, as well as operettas and a ballet. His most famous works include "The Blue Danube" and "Tales from the Vienna Woods." "Die Fledermaus" and "Der Zigeunerbaron" are his best-known operettas.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,980 |
Lot 56 |
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Strauss, Richard (1864-1949) German composer and conductor, known for his tone poems and operas, which include "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Salome"; his lieder, especially his "Four Last Songs"; and his tone poems, including "Death and Transfiguration," "Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks," "Also sprach Zarathustra," and other orchestral works. Photograph signed ("Richard Strauss"), 5¼ x 3 3/8 in., no place, no date. Photo by Willinger is recto of a postcard. Ankle-length pose of Strauss holding a baton, as if he were conducting. Choice dark signature.
Estimated Value $600 - 800.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$781 |
Lot 57 |
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Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich (1840-1893) Russian composer whose works included symphonies, concertos, operas, ballets, chamber music, and a choral setting of the Russian Orthodox Divine Liturgy. Autograph letter signed ("P. Tchaikovsky"), 3 pages, 8vo, with embossed monogram of Anatoly Tchaikovsky, St. Petersburg, September 17, no year. Written to the great Russian conductor Eduard Frantsevich Napravnik, in Russian, discussing an unnamed operatic work, explaining that the score and piano part will be delivered by Jurgenson in a month's time, stating that he will be at Napravnik's disposal regarding the staging of his opera, noting that he would be glad to learn whether he has made any progress with this opera, and wishing him every success in his struggle against "bureaucratic ignorance and dullness."
A characteristically open-hearted letter written by the greatest Russian composer of the nineteenth century to the greatest Russian conductor of the nineteenth century. Napravnik (1839-1916), himself the composer of four operas, conducted the world premieres of many seminal 19th-century Russian operatic works, including Tchaikovsky's "The Oprichnik" (1874), "The Maid of Orleans" (1881), "The Queen of Spades" (1890), and "Iolanta" (1882).
Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000.
Sotheby's, London, May 25, 2001, lot 212.
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| Realized
$16,250 |
Lot 58 |
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Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich. Cabinet photo signed in Russian and dated "11 M 1889," 6½ x 4¼ in. (5½ x 3 7/8 in image). A beautiful three-quarter portrait of the Russian composer, seated with his left arm propped on a table and resting his head on his left hand. Photo by Atelier Wesenberg, St. Petersburg.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$14,400 |
Lot 59 |
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Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich. Autograph letter signed ("P. Tchaikovsky"), in Russian, 2 pages, recto and verso of a pale gray note card, 12mo, January 1, 1887. With autograph transmission envelope, postmarked and stamped, addressed to Edward Françevich Napravnik, Saint Petersburg, Kriukov Canal, near Maryinskovo Theatre, House of Turgenev.
"Mr. Irdmanstofer writes me today that, Manfred cannot be taken off the program because they have already begun to rehearse it. With reference to Vostok (East), he says that he has neither the music score nor the vocal score. Then he writes that in one of the following concerts he will perform your Dances and your quartet will go in the quartet group. That is, dear friend, in short, the content of the letter of Mr. Irdmanstofer. I am working intensively on the [clavichord part?] of Charodeika. I embrace you."
"Charodeika" ("The Enchantress" or "The Sorceress") is an opera in four acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, based on the eponymous libretto by Ippolit Shpazhinsky. Tchaikovsky composed the opera between September 1885 and May 1887 in Maidanovo, Russia, and it was first performed in St Petersburg in 1887.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,000 |
Lot 60 |
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Toscanini, Arturo. Autograph musical quotation inscribed and signed "Arturo Toscanini / Bayreuth 10-8-[1]931," 5 3/8 x 3 3/8 in., on a postcard photograph by Pieperhoff, Leipzig, 1931 (copyright imprint on verso). A bust-length, left-profile portrait of Toscanini (1867-1957), with a musical quotation from Wagner's opera "Parsifal" in the lower margin in blue ink. Inscribed and signed by the tempestuous Italian conductor while attending the annual Wagner Festival in Bayreuth.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
Christie's New York, April 17, 1996, lot 264.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,320 |
Lot 61 |
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Villa-Lobos, Heitor (1887-1959) Brazilian composer who combined European tradition and Brazilian influences and is considered the most significant Latin American composer to date. Autograph musical quotation signed ("H. Villa-Lobos,") one page, 9 x 7 in., Buenos Aires 20/5/1935." Two bars of music with "Thema para un Scherzo hispano, italo luzitano" written above in Villa-Lobos' hand. Above the place and date, he wrote, "Recuerdo 'senza' rancor."
Estimated Value $400 - 600.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$456 |
Lot 62 |
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Wagner, Richard (1813-1883) German composer known primarily for his operas. Autograph letter signed ("Richard Wagner"), in German, 1 page, 7¾ x 4 7/8 in., Venice, January 7, 1883. Written one month and six days before Wagner's death to Otto Lessman at the Editorial Office of The General German Music Magazine in Charlottenburg (Berlin), excusing himself for not yet responding to Lessman's pleasant news regarding the performance of the "Valkyrie" that he organized ("Entschuldigen Sie mich, dass ich bis jetzt Ihren erfreulichen Meldungen über die von Ihnen veranstalteteten Aufführugen der "Walküre" keine Erweiterung von mir noch zu kommen liess"), and assuring Lessman that Wagner had followed him with attentiveness and full recognition and would like to hear more from him ("Seien Sie aber versichert, dass ich Ihnen mit Aufmerksamkeit und voller Anerkennung gefolgt bin und gern Weiteres von Ihnen erfahre.")
Toning around edges from a previous framing. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope, addressed in Wagner's hand, and a fine lithograph of Wagner. "Die Walküre" ("The Valkyrie") is the second of the four operas that form Wagner's cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ("The Ring of the Nibelung").
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$4,320 |
Lot 63 |
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Weill, Kurt & Lotte Lenya (1900-1950) German composer who fled Nazi Germany in 1933; known for his collaborations with Bertolt Brecht; his best-known work is "The Threepenny Opera." Typed letter signed, 1 page, 11 x 8¼ in., on The Playwrights' Company letterhead, New York, Nov. 12, 1949. To Dr. Kurt Adler Adler (1907-1977), the Austrian-born chorus master and lead conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1943 to 1973. Writing Dr. Adler at the Metropolitan Opera Association in New York, he says: "In the middle of all the excitement connected with the opening of LOST IN THE STARS, I did not have a chance to tell you how very much pleased I was with the excellent job you have done on the score of my opera THE SHAH HAS HIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN. Knowing the enormous difficulties of this score, both for the singers and for the orchestra, I was very much impressed with the clarity and preciseness of the performance. I am afraid, on rehearing this work after twenty-two years, I am inclined to agree with the critics who consider it an interesting museum piece. But just for that reason I think it was of great interest to many people to have this piece performed, and especially to have it given such an excellent production, both musically and stagewise…."
Together with a postcard photograph signed "Lotte Lenya, N.Y. Jan. 1974." Lenya (1898-1981) was an Austrian-born singer and actress, best known for performances of the songs of her husband, Kurt Weill. In 1956 she won a Tony Award for her role as Jenny in Marc Blitzstein's English version of "The Threepenny Opera," the only time an Off-Broadway performance has been so honored.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,440 |
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