Opera from Royal Books, Inc.

San Francisco: San Francisco Opera, 1989. Vintage flyer advertising a costume sale by the San Francisco Opera (SFO) on April 22-23, 1989, at the War Memorial Opera House. The SFO has held costume sales nearly every year for the last few decades, frequently leading to lines stretched around the block. The SFO's costume sales serve not only to… Read more about this item

San Francisco: The Folcrom, 1988. Vintage flyer announcing four performances of an opera entitled "Watt," adapted from the Samuel Beckett novel, performed by The Tiny Dead Bodies Opera Company at The Folcrom, San Francisco, October 21 and 22, 28 and 29, 1988. Based on the 1953 novel by Samuel Beckett. The Folcrom was a non-profit installation and performance… Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 2000. Three vintage photographs of director Werner Herzog, taken by noted jazz photographer Jeffrey Kliman during choir rehearsals for his staging of Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser," held at The Lyric Opera House in Baltimore in March, 2000. These prints are unique, struck from the original negative by the photographer. Full provenance available. 8 x 10… Read more about this item

Berlin: A. Rogall, 1932. Folio. Limited Edition, one of 100 numbered copies (this being No. 27) SIGNED by illustrator Rafaello Busoni. Text and titles in German. Comprises the libretto of "Arlecchino," a one-act opera composed by Ferruccio Busoni in 1913, and originally performed at the Zürich Opera House in 1917. Lithograph illustrations throughout by Busoni's son Rafaello.… Read more about this item

Stockholm: Sveriges Television [SVT], 1973. Draft script for the 1975 television film. Text in Swedish. Based on Mozart's 1791 opera "The Magic Flute," titled in German "Die Zauberflote" and here under the Swedish title "Trollflojten." Nominated for one Academy award. The Queen of the Night offers her daughter Pamina to Tamino, but also offers Tamino a… Read more about this item

Avignon, France: Avignon Festival, 1976. Original poster for the seminal 1976 four-act avant-garde opera directed by Robert Wilson and composed by Philip Glass. "Einstein on the Beach" premiered on July 25, 1976, at the Festival d'Avignon in France, performed by the Philip Glass Ensemble and presented by the Byrd Hoffmann Foundation. It was also staged that summer… Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 1915. Vintage photograph of opera singer and recording artist Laurence Tibbett, with his Manual Arts High School professor, Rob Wagner, circa 1915. Although he enjoyed a lengthy career as a director, screenwriter, and magazine writer, Rob L. Wagner is best remembered today as the editor and publisher of "Script," a left-leaning, weekly literary film magazine… Read more about this item

Beverly Hills, CA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM], 1941. Vintage publicity photograph of actress and singer Kathryn Grayson, circa 1941. Mimeo snipe on the verso, along with the stamp of photographer Clarence Bull. Beginning her career as a trained opera singer, Grayson gained a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1940, appearing in starring roles in several MGM musicals, including "Thousands Cheer"… Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 1995. Vintage script for the 1995 play. SIGNED on the title page by playwright Terrence McNally. Aging opera diva Maria Callas retreats into memories of her tragic childhood and glamorous career as she teaches a master class on singing. The play was first staged by the Philadelphia Theatre Company in March 1995 at the Mark… Read more about this item

Santa Monica: RKO Radio Pictures, 1954. Collection of six vintage studio still photographs for the 1954 stop motion animated film. Based on, and incorporating music from, the 1983 opera by composer Engelbert Humperdinck, with a libretto by his sister Adelhied Wette, itself based on the German fairy tale first published in 1812 in "Grimm's Fairy Tales." Produced… Read more about this item

Universal City: Universal Pictures, 1943. Vintage keybook reference photograph of Arthur Lubin and camerman on a crane above the opera house audience from the 1943 film. Mimeo snipe on verso. Loosely based on the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux. The second Universal film based on the story, following Rupert Julian's 1925 silent film. Nominated for four Academy… Read more about this item

N.p.: San Marco, 1969. Two vintage borderless reference photographs of Pier Paolo Pasolini and Maria Callas on the set of the 1969 film. With the stamp of photographer Mario Tursi on the verso. Based on the ancient Greek myth, and loosely on the 431 BC play by Euripides, wherein the titular character famously kills her sons as… Read more about this item

Paris: Studio Piaz, 1934. Four vintage oversize photographs from the 1934 revival of Jacques Offenbach's 1875 operetta showing actress Josephine Baker in costume as Dora. All photographs with the stamp of Studio Piaz at the lower corner of the recto, and one with the address stamp of J. Manuel Richard, Baker's personal secretary, on the verso. The operatic… Read more about this item

Universal City: Universal Pictures, 1943. Draft script for the 1944 Universal horror film. With manuscript pencil annotations on the front wrapper and throughout, mostly noting deletions and page number changes. Included with the script is a bound set of revision pages attributed on the front wrapper and at the top of numerous leaves to dialogue director Gene Lewis, dated… Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 1960. Archive of six vintage photographs of opera singer Anna Moffo, all taken circa late 1950s and early 1960s. American-born opera singer Anna Moffo was one the leading coloratura sopranos of her generation, debuting on the Italian stage in 1955 and achieving lasting fame there after appearing on Italian television as Cio-Cio San in a… Read more about this item

Beverly Hills, CA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM], 1962. Collection of 11 vintage single weight studio still photographs from 1962 (5 photos) and 1969 re-release (6 photos) of the 1954 film, under the title, "Student Prince." Starring actor Purdom, who played the prince, is prominently featured, sometimes sword fighting. One image from the set is shown. Please inquire for others. … Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 1960. Archive of 80 vintage photographs, consisting of 38 double weight and 42 single weight, 39 of which are oversize, of opera singer Anna Moffo, all taken circa late 1950s and early 1960s. The majority of the photographs have stamps or other markings identifying the several photographers represented in the collection. 6 photos shown, images… Read more about this item

Italy: San Marco / Les Films Number One / Janus Film und Ferneshen, 1969. Vintage oversize borderless color photograph from the 1969 film. Based on the Greek myth, the film is opera legend Maria Callas' only feature film role, one in which she did not sing. 11.5 x 9.5 inches. Near Fine. BFI 1088. … Read more about this item

Hollywood: Paramount Pictures, 1939. Draft script for the 1939 film. A musical drama that follows the romantic and professional arc of two performers. Louise Hall abandons her humble beginnings to become a singer in New York City, where she meets and falls in love with John Ramsey, the star of Victor Herbert's operas. Ramsey takes her under… Read more about this item

N.p.: N.p., 1960. Vintage photograph of opera singer Anna Moffo, taken circa early 1960s. American-born opera singer Anna Moffo was one the leading coloratura sopranos of her generation, debuting on the Italian stage in 1955 and achieving lasting fame there after appearing on Italian television as Cio-Cio San in a 1956 production of "Madame Butterfy." She returned… Read more about this item