Opera.

including two late eighteenth-century drawings by Josef Platzer of a pavilion ("Beata Solitudo") and a rural scene, 1 folio leaf, framed and glazed: c.52.5 x 39cms, c.1780s; ten early hand-coloured engravings of theatres and operas, including the Mirabel Gardens in Salzburg (by Corvinus after Dannreuter), framed and glazed, c.36 x 46cms; The Schauspielhaus in Vienna, framed and glazed, 46 c 57.5cms, Artaria, and others;  together with drawings by Caspar Neher (2 stage designs for Un ballo in maschera, unframed, c.1920), Kirsten Flagstad's stage dagger, used by her as Dido in Dido and Aeneas, c.20 engravings and prints of singers, including Mrs Billington, Mara, Malibran, Catherine Stephens, Morichelli, Catalani, Braham, Vestris, Kemble, Milder and others, printed and silk programmes, including Cinq concerts historiques russes (Paris, 1907), and a large early nineteenth-century hand-coloured  engraving of a "Egyptian" stage set (by Romagnoli after Basoli), unframed,



 

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The leaf of two drawings attributed to Josef Platzer (1751-1806) were formerly in the Mayr Fajt Collection in Eisenstadt.  Platzer made the stage designs for the Nostitz theatre in Prague in 1783;  his designs were probably used for the productions there of Don Giovanni, Figaro, and  La clemenza di Tito. Kirsten Flagstad sang in a famous production of Dido and Aeneas at the Mermaid Theatre in London on 9 September 1951.