Liazza Francesco (1 results)
More imagesAN ARCHIVE of CORRESPONDENCE mostly consisting of SIGNED LETTERS from the OPERATIC MEZZO-SOPRANO STELLA DE METTE who, encouraged by Enrico Caruso, studied and starred in Opera. All are addressed to her manager Chamberlain Brown, and she mentions her admiration for the dancer Stasia Ledowa and the contralto Ina Bourskaya, her pleasure at so many performances of Carmen. She mentions her hectic performance schedule, her disagreements with the Italian Opera Impressario Fortune Gallo of San Carlo Opera, and her displeasure with the "new" Carmen Lorna Doone Jaxon.
Brown, Chamberlain; Liazza, Francesco; Gallo, Fortune; de Mette, Stella [aka: de Mette-Liazza, Stella].
Published by 1922-1935. 1922-1935. 1922
- Softcover
Seller: Blue Mountain Books & Manuscripts, Ltd., Cadyville, U.S.A.Blue Mountain Books & Manuscripts, Ltd.
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 2,500.00
US$ 5.75 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketCondition: Very good. 1922-1935., 1922-1935. Very good. - The collection consists of: 18 Autograph letters signed, 20 Typed letters signed, an unsigned Autograph letter, an unsigned Typed letter and a contract signed by Stella de Mette and 4 Typed letters from Francesco Liazza together with autograph drafts of letters by Brown o…n 3 of the de Mette pieces. 1). St. Louis, MO, March 10, 1922. Autograph Letter Signed on both sides of a 3-3/8 X 5-1/4 inch card addressed to Mr. Brown expressing her boredom. "All I've been doing is attending social affairs & living a most monotonous life - as society does not in the least appeal to me." Signed "Stella de Mette-Liazza". 2). New York City, April 21, 1922. Autograph Letter Signed on 2 sides of a folded 6-1/2 X 5 inch folded sheet of note paper addressed to Mr. Brown suggesting a meeting with him. Signed "Stella de M. Liazza". 3). Hotel Schuyler Arms (NYC), June 8, 1922. Autograph Letter Signed on both sides of her personal 10-1/2 X 6-1/2 inch monogramed letterhead addressed to Mr. Brown requesting that he make an appointment with her friend Anna Lorraine, a "dramatic artist". "Anticipated hearing from you three or four weeks ago - but no doubt things didn't materialize." Signed "Stella de Mette-Liazza". 4). Alvin Theatre-San Carlo Opera Co., Pittsburgh, PA. December 8, 1922. Autograph Letter Signed on 3 (of 4) sides of 6-1/4 X 5-1/8 inch "The Washington, Washington D.C." note paper. She addresses Mr. Brown introducing "Miss Stasia Ledowa - you no doubt have admired her splendid work with the San Carlo at the Century - just recently. She is a REAL artist." Stasia Ledowa was premiere danseuse with the Chicago Opera Company. Signed "Stella de Mette". 5). Draft of a letter from Chamberlain Brown to Stella de Mette, 9 lines written over the top of a typed letter from Stella de Mette in which she informs Brown that she is "hard at work - studying Carmen - the first time in my career that I have taken this opera seriously.Want to thank you again & again for the big interest you take in me & hope at some future date we can do something really worth while." Signed "Mrs. Francesco Liazza" on "San Carlo Opera Co. Orchestra / Francesco Liazza, Manager" letterhead. In his draft Brown writes that he heard [Frances] "Peralta, as 'Carmen' the other night, and she was really excellent. She gave a rare intelligent performance, with several new ideas, that pulled a Jeritza on the audience. At the end of the third act, instead of standing still, she lit the cigarette and did a complete fall on the ground and started the card scene over again. By the time Don Jose arrives at her, she yells 'La Mort' and tears the cards to pieces, giving Jose a look - realizing he is the man to kill her and then, with great emotion, pulled a second act 'Tosca'". Accompanied by the carbon of Brown's typed letter dated June 27, 1924. 6). July 19, 1924. Autograph Letter Signed on both sides of a sheet of 11 X 8-1/2 inch letterhead from "The Kemper Lane / Cincinnati", Addressing Brown as "My dear friend" asking him to "please hold your thumbs for me on Mon. night. They are putting on Carmen just for me & am opening in this.P.S. Francesco will wire you after perf. & I would be very grateful if you could get this in some of the N.Y. papers". Signed "Stella de Mette". 7). March 15, 1925. Autograph Letter Signed on 3 sides of 2 sheets of 8-1/2 X 5-3/8 "The Newhouse Hotel / Salt Lake City, Utah" letterhead. Addressing Brown as "Dear friend" de Mette encloses "the splendid notices I rec'd this season". [Not here present]. Signed "Stella de Mette". 8). Philadelphia, PA. October 23, 1925. One-page Typed Letter Signed on 11 X 8-1/2 inch "San Carlo Opera Co. Orchestra / Francesco Liazza, Manager" letterhead. Addressing Brown as "Dear 'Manager": de Mette writes that she was "furious on Tues. night. That Dumb-bell [Franco] Tafuro simply ruined my Carmen. The notices are good but were better last year when [Manuel] Salazar was my Don Jose. He simply stood like a wooden man all evening & I might as well have been playing to the chair.Francesco thinks some one is working against me here & I hope that you can get me away from here next season.I am heartily sick & tired of this D--- company." Signed "Stella". The right edge of the letter is chipped. 9). Detroit, Mich. November 14, 1925. Typed Letter Signed on 2 sides of 11 X 8-1/2 inch "Fort Pitt Hotel / Pittsburgh, Pa" letterhead. A long chatty letter: "Last week was a hard one - viz: Mon.night - Carmen, Tues. Amneris, Wed. matinee - Hansel & Gretel & Sat. matinee Lohengrin also Forza on Sunday night.The next Carmen will be sung by Alice Gentle - she has Tafuro for Don Jose the opening night in New Orleans - I wish her luck. He certainly queered my Carmen in Phila. & the first one here.How I'd have love to have been at the opening of the Met. dear Matzenauer I know she was glorious. I adore her. long may she reign Queen of Mezzos". Signed "Stella". There are scattered ink jottings at the end of the letter, perhaps notes by Brown. 10). New Orleans, La. December 3, 1925. Typed letter, unsigned, on both sides of 11 X 8-1/2 inch "The Brown Hotel / Louisville, Ky" letterhead. Addressing Brown as "Dear Manager" de Mette writes that "We are rehearsing several hours each day - Fra Diavolo.Maestro wants me to learn a new role - the countess in Andrea Chenier (we give it the last week & the blind woman also which I have sung many times) Francesco doesn't want me to do any more favors to the management so I don't know what shall happen. I certainly am getting an awful deal this season at the hands of the management. I told you that would happen as it's because I wouldn't sign that contract with [Fortune] Gallo.This must positively be my last year in this Co. I am thoroughly disgusted & discouraged. Suppose I will have all the Carmens on the coast being Gentle is not with us anymore. Feel like giving my notice as I know I shall be roasted to a cinder under the circumstances." The letter i.
