Opera autographs B

Autographs: opera singers B

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Carlo Badioli - born 1916, Italian bass-baritone, famous for singing and recording buffo roles. His repertoire included Sancho in Don Qichotte, Benoit/Alcindoro in La Boheme, the title role in Don Pasquale and the Sacristan in Tosca - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing him as Don Pasquale, signed "Carlo Badioli, Vienna 1956". £35

above: autograph detail

above: detail of Norman Bailey autograph

below: reverse of item with

excellent further autograph

Norman Bailey - 1933-2021, British bass-baritone, who was brought up and trained in South Africa, and in the early 1960s sang in small German opera houses where his roles included Rigoletto, Luna, Boccanegra, Renato and Nabucco. Joined Sadlers Wells Opera in 1967, and sang with the company (later English National Opera) for over 25 years in a huge number of roles - his Hans Sachs and Sharpless were particularly highly regarded. At ROH Covent Garden he frequently sang Germont, and most of the Wagner Heldenbariton roles, and at the Metropolitan Opera he was a much-admired Sachs (the role in which he made his debut in 1976) and Wotan. At Bayreuth he sang Gunther, Amfortas and Sachs. Now retired, he lives in Florida - 3.25 x 5.5 inches (8.5 x 13.5 cm) autographed photo showing him as Hans Sachs, signed: "Kindest regards from Norman Bailey", and on the reverse is a second autograph. £45 [ref: NB1]

above: detail of Norman Bailey autograph

Norman Bailey - 1933-2021, British bass-baritone with a huge repertoire. He was brought up and trained in South Africa, and in the early 1960s sang in small opera houses where his roles included Rigoletto, Luna, Boccanegra, Renato and Nabucco. He joined Sadlers Wells Opera (later English National Opera) in 1967, and sang with the company for over 25 years in a huge number of roles; his Hans Sachs and Sharpless were particularly highly regarded. At the Royal Opera House Coven Garden he frequently sang Germont and most of the Wagner Heldenbariton roles. At the Metropolitan Opera he was a much-admired Sachs (the role in which he made debut in 1976) and Wotan. At Bayreuth he sang Gunther, Amfortas and Sachs. He made a number of recordings, although his huge but soft-grained voice was best heard live, and was not ideal for the recording studio. Now retired, he lives in Florida - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo showingn him as Nabucco, nicely signed in firm blue-black biro. £45 [ref: NB2]

above: detail of Ruza Baldani autograph

Ruza Baldani - born 1942, Croation mezzo-soprano. She sang at most of the major opera houses, particularly at the Vienna Staatsoper, where her roles included Brangane and Ulrica. In 1965 she made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Maddalena in Rigoletto, and in 1976 she made a highly successful debut at Paris Opera as Carmen. Her repertoire also included Amneris, and Eboli - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo from Salzburg, 1972. £20

Agnes Baltsa - born 1944, Greek mezzo-soprano. She made her professional debut as Cherubino for Frankfurt Opera in 1968, and in 1969 sang Octavian for the Vienna Staatsoper, making her Scala debut in 1974 as Dorabella. In 1976 she was Cherubino at Covent Garden, and her Metropolitan Opera debut was in 1979 as Octavian, returning for Carmen which has become her most famous role. She is a fine actress, and her repertoire includes Delila, Eboli, Adalgisa, Azucena, Dido, Charlotte, Rosina, Cenerentola, the Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Giulietta (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo, nicely signed in blue marker-pen. £30 [ref: AB1]

above: detail of Agnes Baltsa autograph

Agnes Baltsa - born 1944, Greek mezzo-soprano. She made her professional debut as Cherubino for Frankfurt Opera in 1968, and in 1969 she sang Octavian for the Vienna Staatsoper, making her debut at La Scala Milan in 1974 as Dorabella. In 1976 she first appeared at Covent Garden as Dorabella, returning for Carmen which has become her most famous role. She is a fine actress, and her repertoire includes Delila, Eboli, Adalgisa, Azucena, Dido, Charlotte, Rosina, Cenerentola, The Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Giulietta (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing her as Carmen, signed in gold marker-pen. £25 [ref: AB3]

above: detail of Rose Bampton autograph

Rose Bampton - 1908-2007, American soprano. She started her career as a contralto, before becoming a soprano and making her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1932. In 1937 she sang Amneris at Covent Garden. She was a notable Leonora in Il Trovatore, Eva in Die Meistersinger, Donna Anna, Marschallin, and Alceste, later moving to Wagner roles - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.5 x 14 cm) autographed photo, signed: "For Luis Helgo Dargados, cordialmente, Rose Bampton 1948". £30

above: detail of Olaf Bär autograph

Olaf Bär - born 1957, German baritone. Thanks to the intelligent use of his fine lyric baritone voice, in the late 1980s he was being hailed as the natural successor to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau not least by the record companies. In opera he performed and recorded the roles of Papageno and The Speaker in Die Zauberflöte, and made a highly successful debut at Covent Garden as Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos. He has made numerous recordings, particularly of lieder and oratorios - 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10.5 cm) autographed photo, signed in silver marker pen, showing him in his home city of Dresden. £18

Fedora Barbieri - 1920-2003, Italian mezzo-soprano. She came to international prominence in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony under De Sabata, and in 1950 she made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Eboli, returning for 95 performances in eleven roles. She became one of the most eminent mezzos of her time, and famously sang Eboli in the 1958 Visconti production of Don Carlo at Covent Garden, and performed in all of the major opera houses, and was still singing in her 70s. Her other roles included Azucena, Mistress Quickly, Adalgesa, Amneris and Ulrica - 5.25 x 7 inches (13.5 x 18 cm) autographed photo showing her as Martha in Kovantchina. Condition: crease to bottom-right corner, and two large surface-creases running vertically. Do not be put off: this is still an excellent autographed photo. £30

Rutland Barrington - 1853-1922, British singer and actor, best remembered for creating many baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy Operas, including Captain Corcoran (HMS Pinafore), Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), Dr Daly (The Sorcerer), Sir Despard Murgatroyd (Ruddigore) and Giuseppe (The Gondoliers). Later a star of musical comedy and music hall - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed postcard, postally-used in 1908 (addressed in R. B.'s handwriting), signed: "with pleasure, Rutland Barrington". Condition: slight wear to corners, particularly bottom-right. £40 [ref: RB1]

autograph detail

Josephine Barstow - born 1940, British soprano, a fine singing actress with a huge repertoire (Violetta, Musetta, Lady Macbeth, Salome) who became a major star at English National Opera - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo. £20

above: detail of Josephine Barstow autograph

Cecilia Bartoli - born 1966; Italian mezzo-soprano who is capable of soprano roles as well. She came to fame singing Cherubino at the Opera Bastille in 1990, then had huge success in other Mozart roles including Zerlina, Susannah and Dorabella. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1996 as Despina, and in 2000 she was a highly acclaimed Donna Elvira at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 1991 she made her long-awaited debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in Hayden's L'anima del filosofo. She has already made a huge number of recordings in her short career, including many previously unrecorded arias by Rossini, Gluck and Vivaldi - 6 x 8.25 inches (15 x 21 cm) autographed large Decca publicity card, signed: "Best wishes, Cecilia Bartoli". £25

Thorpe Bates - 1883-1958, British baritone (real name Thomas Thorpe-Bates). He had a successful career as a soloist in oratorios and on the concert platform, becoming a star of operetta and musical comedy, most famously in The Rebel Maid, where his rendition of The Fishermen of England stopped the show every night, as he was forced to perform at least one encore. In 1922 he performed on Broadway in The Yankee Princess. He made a number of recordings of opera and Gilbert and Sullivan, including a popular recording of Captain Corcoran's opening song from HMS Pinafore - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed postcard. £20

above: detail Kathleen Battle autograph

Kathleen Battle - born 1948, American soprano. She made her debut with New York City Opera in 1976 as Susanna, and sang Oscar in Ballo in Maschera for San Francisco Opera in 1977, the same year that she made her Metropolitan Opera debut. She reurned to the Met for over 150 performances of 13 different roles. She made her Covent Garden debut in 1985 as Zerbinetta, returning in 1990 to sing Nerina in Don Pasquale. British audiences found her voice very beautiful and with coluratura of pinpoint accuracy, but very small, and reports from the USA of her temperamental antics counted against her. Eventually sacked by the Metropolitan Opera in 1994, she has sung in concerts, both classical and pop since then. 22 years later, she was reconciled with the Metropolitan Opera in 2016, and sang in a concert of spirituals. - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo, signed "Best wishes, Kathleen Battle" in green felt-tip pen, with slight smudge as shown on scan. Excellent rarer young autograph. £30

above: detail of Olga Bauer-Pilecka autograph

Olga Bauer-Pilecka - 1887-1941, Polish-born Austrian contralto. Initially a concert and oratorio singer, in 1917 she joined the Vienna Court Opera (later renamed the Vienna State Opera) where her roles included Azucena, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Suzuki, Amneris, Fricka and Orlovsky. She was also famous for her love of dachshunds - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo, signed: "Olga Bauer-Pilecka, Wien 1928". £60

above: detail of Maria Bayo autograph

Maria Bayo - born 1958, Spanish soprano. She was a pupil of Teresa Berganza, and made her international debut at Lucerne as Mozart's Susanna, and then as Donizetti's Lucia. She has sung at Covent Garden and at the Metropolitan Opera, but is perhaps most famous for a sensational Musetta at La Scala Milan. At Salzburg in 1998 she sang in Cavalli's Callisto, and Mozart's Cherubino, returning in 1999 for Zerlina. Her repertoire includes Liu, Mimi, Despina and Michaela, and she has more recently become renowned for singing baroque music - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo, signed in black marker pen. £18

Hermann Becht - 1939-2009, German bass-baritone, he sang with the Bavarian State Opera and the Vienna Staatsoper; his roles included Pizarro, Mozart's Count, Telramund, both the Dutchman and Daland, Pogner, Hunding, Wozzeck and Amfortas. At Bayreuth he was a noted Alberich and Kurtvenal - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo. £18

Hildegard Behrens - born 1937, German soprano who made her Covent Garden debut as Leonore (Fidelio) in 1976, and that same year her Metropolitan Opera debut as Giorgetta (Il Tabarro). ln 1977 she sang Salome at Salzburg, and from 1983-86 she was Brunnhilde at Bayreuth. A fine actress with a wonderful voice, her Marie in Wozzeck, Senta and Emilia Marty were greatly admired - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo. £25

Hans Beirer - 1911-1993, Austrian tenor; sang Tristan, Siegfried, Otello, Florestan and Radames for Deutsche Oper Berlin, and La Scala Milan. He sang Tannhauser, Tristan and Parsifal at Bayreuth - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo showing him as Parsifal, dated 1962. £35 [ref: HB1]

Hans Beirer - 1922-1993, Austrian tenor; sang Tristan, Siegfried, Otello, Florestan and Radames for Deutsche Oper Berlin and at La Scala Milan. He sang Tannhauser, Tristan and Parsifal at Bayreuth - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo showing him in The Flying Dutchman. Condition: slight surface abrasionw. £25 [ref: HB2]

above: Hugh Beresford autograph

Hugh Beresford - 1925-2021, British high baritone, who latterly sang as a tenor. He began his career as a baritone, making his professional debut in 1953 as Wolfram in Linz. He sang in German and B\ritish opera houses, where his roles included Alfio, Tonio, Mandryka, Eugene Onegin, Sharpless, Don Giovanni, Rigoletto and Germont Pere. In 1970 he retrained and started singing as a tenor, and his roles included Calaf, Cannio, Otello and Don Carlo. In his old age he taught singing in Vienna - 3.5 x 5 inches (9 x 13 cm) autographed wavy-edged photo, signed: "Hugh Beresford, Wein, 1964". £20

Teresa Berganza - 1936-2022, Spanish mezzo-soprano, particularly fine in Mozart and Rossini roles - 4.75 x 6.5 inches (12 x 17 cm) autographed photo. £35 [ref: TB1]

Teresa Berganza - 1936-2022, Spanish mezzo-soprano, particularly fine in Mozart and Rossini roles - 4.75 x 7 inches (12 x 18 cm) autographed photo showing her as Cherubino. £35 [ref: TB2]

Teresa Berganza - 1936-2022, Spanish mezzo-soprano, particularly fine in Mozart and Rossini roles - 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17 x 23 cm) large autographed photo showing her as Cherubino. £40 [ref: TB3]

Carlo Bergonzi - 1924-2014, Italian tenor with a large repertoire that covered nearly all of the verismo and Verdi tenor roles, as well as Donizetti roles such as Nemorino and Edgardo. He regularly sang at both the Met and at Covent Garden as well as most of the world's major opera houses. His fine voice and intelligent singing can be heard on dozens of recordings - 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.5 cm) large autographed photo. SOLD

Walter Berry - 1929-2000, Austrian bass-baritone who rose to fame singing the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Vienna Staatsoper; with his wide repertoire and magnificent voice he made guest appearances in all of the world's major opera houses. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1966, as Barak in Die Frau ohne Schatten, the same role with which he made his Covent Garden debut in 1976, returning for Wotan, Bluebeard and Waldner (Arabella). He was particularly admired as Wozzeck, Baron Ochs and Pizarro - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed Fayer postcard showing him as Johannan in Salome at the Vienna Staatsoper, nicely signed in black marker-pen. £30

above: detail of Aldo Bertocci autograph

Aldo Bertocci - 1915-2004; Italian tenor, who had a busy career singing Puccini and Verdi roles in Italian opera houses in the 1940sand 50s. His roles included Canio, Rodolfo, Otello, Rinuccio and Cavaradossi. A highly intelligent singer, at La Scala Milan he made frequent appearances in contemporary operas by composers such as Hindermith and Orff - 4.25 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing him as Canio in Pagliacci. £18

Bert Beswick - British baritone who became famous when he replaced Walter Passmore in the leading role of "Jim Cheese" in Seymour Hick's musical comedy The Earl and the Girl, a role that he went on to play to great acclaim throughout the 1910s and 1920s - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed postcard showing him as Jim Cheese, signed: "Yours faithfully, Bert Beswick". £15

above: detail of Bert Beswick autograph

Ingrid Bjoner - 1927-2006, Norwegian soprano, particularly known for her portrayal of Wagner heroines. For Norwegian National Opera she sang Donna Anna, and at Drottningholm the title role in Handel's Rodelinda. At the Vienna Staatsoper she sang Ariadne, Desdemona, Turandot and Leonore (Fidelio). In 1961 she made her Met debut as Elsa, returning to sing Mozart's Countess, The Empress, Eva and Gutrune. At ROH Covent Garden she sang Beethoven's Leonore, Sieglinde and Senta; her other roles included Tosca, Brunnhilde and Elizabeth - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo, signed by her in green ink. £50

Hans Peter Blochwitz - born 1949, German tenor. A fine lieder singer and oratorio soloist, he made his operatic debut as Lensky at Frankfurt Opera in 1984, his Covent Garden debut in 1989 as Ferrando and his Met debut as Don Ottavio in 1990. He is a fine Tamino, and as well as his Mozart roles he has recorded Bach Cantatas and Schubert lieder - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed publicity card, signed: "Herzlicht, Hans Peter Blochwitz". £15

Ruthilde Boesch - 1918-2012, Austrian soprano, famous for her lyric-soprano and coloratura roles at the Vienna State Opera, singing there 387 times in 38 roles. In an era when this company was awash with excellent sopranos, she was supreme in Mozart roles such as Susanna, Despina and Papagena. She regularly sang at the Salzburg and Bregenz festivals; her other noteworthy roles included Zerbinetta and Olympia. A famous singing teacher, her pupils included Edita Gruberova and Eva Lind - 3.25 x 5.5 inches (8.5 x 14 cm) autographed photo, dated "Sept '56" top left, and signed: "Herzliebst, Ruthilde Boesch". £30

Kurt Bohme - 1908-1983, German bass, best known as Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier - 4.25 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo, dated 5.6.58. £20

above: detail of Kurt Bohme autograph

Hans Heinz Bollmann - 1889-1994, German tenor with a fine voice, used with great elegance and intelligence; he started his career singing opera roles in his native Hamburg, but soon became well known for operetta, particularly in Berlin and Vienna, and he became a famous star of radio during the 1930s - autograph on 7 x 4.5 inches (18 x 11.5 cm) page from autograph book, signed: "Zarewitsch Wien 1928, Hans Heinz Bollmann". £20

above: detail of Webster Booth autograph

Webster Booth - 1902-1984. British tenor; with a voice of great beauty and charm he was one of the finest tenors of his generation; he is perhaps best remembered for his records of duets with Anne Ziegler, which could be found in most households. He joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1923, singing in the chorus and the role of Luiz in The Gondoliers, and in later years returning for numerous recordings. He later became famous as a soloist in oratorios and as a radio star. In 1930 he made his West End debut in The Three Musketeers, and had a spell at Covent Garden where, amongst other roles, he sang the First Armed Man in The Magic Flute, and he Italian Singer in Der Rosenkavalier - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo, signed: "Every good wish, yrs. sincerely, Webster Booth, Shanklin 1931". Condition: remains of black photo-corners on reverse where item was once mounted in album. Nice early signed photo; much scarcer than the later ones of him and Anne Ziegler together. £25

Franco Bonisolli - 1938-2003, eccentric Italian tenor. Among his many roles he sang Nemorino, the Duke of Mantua, Alfredo, Rodolfo and Cavaradossi early in his career, and later on Otell, Manrico and Calaf. He appeared in all of the world's major opera houses, including the Met, La Scala, Vienna and Covent Garden - autograph on 6 x 3.5 inches (15 x 9 cm) white page from autograph book, signed at ROH Covent Garden 1985. £10 [ref: FB1]

Umberto Borghi - Italian tenor - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo, signed: "Umberto Borghi, Verona 1965". £20

above: detail of Inge Borkh autograph

Inge Borkh - born 1921 (or possibly 1917), German dramatic soprano. She began her career as an actress, and she became famous as a great singing-actress. She studied in Italy during WW2, moving to Switzerland, where she lived until the 1950s. She sang Lady Macbeth, Tosca, Medea, Turandot, Leonore in Fidelio and Aida. In 1952 she sang Sieglinde at Bayreuth, but it was in Richard Strauss operas as The Dyer's Wife, Salome and Elektra that she became world-famous, singing these roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Vienna, Munich and Berlin. She only recorded a few of her roles, but they are extraordinary, particularly Elektra and Turandot - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo, beautifully signed in black ink, and dated 1961. £30 RESERVED

above: detail of Olga Borodina autograph

Olga Borodino - born 1963, Russian mezzo-soprano. Based at the Mariinsky Theatre, she has a wide repertoire including Russian, French and Italian opera. In 1992 she made her Covent Garden debut in Samson et Dalilah opposite Placido Dimongo, and at the Metropolitan Opera she has sung Eboli, Cenerentola,Carmen and Amneris. She is an expressive actress, and her voice is large and dramatic, although she claims that it is actually a lyric voice and that Verdi taxes her greatly. She has gained a reputation for speaking her mind, and for pulling out of producions she does not like. - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo, showing her in costume. £20

above: detail of Luisa Bosabalian autograph

Luisa Bosabalian - born 1936, Armenian soprano. She made her professional debut for Brussels Opera as Michaela, and in 1966 sang the role of Jenufa (with Hamburg State Opera) at the Metropolitan Opera House. In 1967 she made her Covent Garden debut as Alice Ford, and regularly sang for Scottish Opera where her roles included Mimi, Desdemona and Donna Elvira - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo. £20

John Brecknock - born 1937, British tenor; a regular with English National Opera in the 1970s and 80s, particularly as Alfredo in La Traviata, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, and the title role in Count Ory - autograph on 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9 cm) card, signed: "With all good wishes John Brecknock" with small photo snipped from a magazine showing him as Lindoro in 1979. £10

Wolfgang Brendel - born 1947, German baritone, a noted Mandryka in Arabella - autograph on 6 x 3.5 inches (15 x 9 cm) white page from autograph book, signed: "21.10.85 Conte di Luna, Wolfgang Brendel", signed after performance of Il Trovatore at ROH Covent Garden. £10

above: detail of Gerd Brenneis autograph

Gerd Brenneis - 1930-2003, German tenor. He had a busy career in Germany singing in provincial opera houses; at Essen he made a huge success in the title role of Britten's Albert Herring, and subsequently appeared in major German opera houses in Wagner roles including Walter and Lohengrin. In 1975 he made his debut at La Scala Milan as Forestan, and from 1976 onwards he appeared regularly at the Metropolitan Opera New York, where his roles included Froh, Walter, Parsifal, Siegmund and Tannhauser. At Bayreuth he sang Walter in Die Meistersinger and Siegmund in Die Walküre - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing him as Tristan in Tristan und Isolde at Deutsche Oper Berlin, signed: "Herzliebst, Gerd Brenneis". £25

Maria Jose Brill - mezzo-soprano, who sang with Deutche Opera Berlin in the 1970s and 80s - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing her as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly in Berlin, signed: "Herzliebst, Maria Jose Brill, 1996". £12

above: detail of June Bronhill autograph

June Bronhill - 1929-2005, Australian soprano, best remembered for singing soprano operetta roles at Sadlers Wells, including the title roles in The Merry Widow, La Belle Helene and for singing Euridice in Orpheus in the Underworld all of which she recorded. Opera roles included The Queen of the Night inThe Magic Flute, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, and she sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor ) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden - 4.75 x 6.5 inches (12 x 16.5 cm) autographed photo, signed: "Dear Joyce, thank you for your kind letter. Good wishes, June Bronhill". £35

above: detail of Gré Brouwenstijn autograph

Gré Brouwenstijn - 1915-1999, Dutch soprano. A major international star in that post-war age when there were so many fine sopranos. During WW2 she sang in the Netherlands, and after the war became a regular performer at the Holland Festival. She made her Covent Garden debut in 1951 as Aida under Barbirolli, returning regularly to sing Tosca, Leonora (Fidelio) and Elizabeth (Don Carlo). At Bayreuth she sang Eva, Sieglinde, Elizabeth and Gutrune. She was world-famous for her interpretation of the role of Leonore in Fidelio - 5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo showing her as Elizabeth in Tannhauser, signed: "Mit herzliebst [something], Gré Brouwenstijn". £25 [ref: GB1]

above: detail of Gré Brouwenstijn autograph

Gré Brouwenstijn - 1915-1999, Dutch soprano. A major international star in that post-war age when there were so many fine sopranos. During WW2 she sang in the Netherlands, and after the war became a regular performer at the Holland Festival. She made her Covent Garden debut in 1951 as Aida under Barbirolli, returning regularly to sing Tosca, LLeonora (Fidelio) and Elizabeth (Don Carlo). At Bayreuth she sang Eva, Sieglinde, Elizabeth and Gutrune. She was world-famous for her interpretation of the role of Leonore in Fidelio - 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm) autographed photo. £30 [ref: GB2]

above: detail of Robert Brubaker autograph

Robert Brubaker - American tenor; started his profession career in the chorus of New York City Opera, initially as a baritone, later moving to sing tenor character roles, then powerful dramatic ones. At the Metropolitan Opera he sang Mime in the Ring Cycle, at English National Opera he was Don Jose in Carmen and became the first American to sing the title role in Peter Grimes in England. At Covent Garden he has sung Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Laca in Jenufa at Glyndebourne; he has filmed or recorded many of his roles - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo, showing him as Peter Grimes. £18

[N.B. He should not be confused with the American movie actor of the same name who appeared in Westerns in the 1960s.]

Sesto Bruscantini - 1919-2003, Italian baritone who was famous for singing buffo and lyric roles in Rossini and Mozart operas. He included in his repertoire both Don Pasquale and Malatesta, Guglielmo and Don Alfonso, Rossini's Figaro and Dr Bartolo, and Mozart's Figaro and Count Almaviva. He later added more dramatic roles such as Rigoletto, Germont Pere, Posa and Ford. A wonderful singing actor, he regularly sang at Glyndebourne, Salzburg and Vienna - 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17 x 23 cm) autographed photo showing him as Posa in Don Carlo. Condition: slight wear to middle-right edge. £45

Renato Bruson - born 1936, Italian baritone noted for his dignified and noble interpretations of Verdi and Donizetti roles. At the Metropolitan he was a highly-acclaimed Enrico, Posa, Germont and Luna, and at ROH Covent Garden he was a regular Macbeth, Miller, Iago, Boccanegra and Falstaff - autograph on 5.75 x 3.5 inches (14.5 x 9 cm) white paper page from autograph book, dated 1986. £12 [ref: RB3]

Isobel Buchanan - born 1954, British (Scottish) soprano whose roles included Pamina and The Countess (Figaro) at Glyndebourne, and Michaela and Sophie (Werther) at ROH Covent Garden - 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.5 cm) large autographed photo, signed: "Best wishes, Isobel Buchanan". Condition: minor surface-creases bottom left, and small tear half-way up left-hand border. £20

Grace Bumbry - born 1937, American mezzo-soprano, and more recently soprano. In 1961 she sang Venus at Bayreuth where she was the first black artist to perform; in 1963 she made her Covent Garden debut and in 1965 her Met debut, both as Eboli. She later sang Adalgesa, Norma and Salome at Covent Garden, and both Verdi Leonoras, Bess, Tosca and La Gioconda at the Met. She recorded many of her roles including Carmen - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing her as Eboli in Don Carlo, nicely signed in red marker-pen. £30 [ref: GB1]

Grace Bumbry - born 1937, American mezzo-soprano, and more recently soprano. In 1961 she sang Venus at Bayreuth where she was the first black artist to perform; in 1963 she made her Covent Garden debut and in 1965 her Met debut, both as Eboli. She later sang Adalgesa, Norma and Salome at Covent Garden, and both Verdi Leonoras, Bess, Tosca and La Gioconda at the Met. She recorded many of her roles including Carmen - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo. Condition: slight wear to top corners. £22 [ref: GB2]

Grace Bumbry - born 1937, American mezzo-soprano, later soprano. In 1961 she sang Venus at Bayreuth where she was the first black artist to perform; in 1963 she made her Covent Garden debut, and then in 1965 her Metropolitan Opera debut, both debuts as Eboli. She later sang Adalgesa, Norma and Salome at Covent Garden, and both Verdi Leonoras, Bess, Tosca and La Gioconda at the Met. She recorded many of her roles including Carmen - 4.25 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed photo showing her as Tosca. £25 [ref: GB3]

above: detail of Eva-Maria Bundschuh autograph

Eva-Maria Bundschuh - born 1941, German soprano. Born and brought up in former East Germany, she initially sang mezzo-soprano roles in small theatres, where her roles included Hänsel, Dorabella, Carmen and Eboli. With the Deutche Staatsoper Berlin she moved to a soprano repertoire, and sang Violetta and Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, and at the Komische Oper Berlin she played Musetta, Eva, Despina, Donna Anna, and later dramatic roles such as Salome and Jenufa; at Bayreuth she sang Gutrune. Towards the end of her career she regularly sang the soprano solo in Beethoven's 9th Symphony, most notably in Cleveland USA - 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) autographed photo. £20

above: detail of Paata Burchuladze autograph

Paata Burchuladze - born 1955, Georgian bass. He studied in Milan from 1978, and within three years had made his debut at La Scala, where he sang Banquo, Zaccaria in Nabucco, Walther in Luisa Miller and Pagano in I Lombardi. In 1984 he made a sensational debut at Covent Garden as Ramfis, returning as Rossini's Don Basilio, the title role in Boris Godunov, and the Inquisitor in The Fiery Angel. In 1989 he sang Don Basilio at the Metropolitan Opera, followed by Boris and the Grand Inquisitor. His huge voice made him a sensation in the 1980s and the early 90s, and he was much admired as Philip II, Fiesco, Boito's Mephistofele and Dosifey in Khovanshchina, and recorded many of his roles - 4 x 6 inches (10.5 x 15 cm) autographed record-company card, signed "With best wishes, P. Burchuladze '87". £30

Stuart Burrows - born 1933, British (Welsh) tenor, a regular at ROH Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera New York (Don Ottavio, Lensky, Alfredo, Fenton, Faust) - autograph on 6 x 3.5 inches (15 x 9 cm) white page from autograph book, signed after a performance of Faust at ROH. £12

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