Composers and performers.

by Hilda Wiener (1877-1940), mainly sketched from life at concerts in Brussels; the portraits show Rachmaninov (at the Concerts Ysaye in 1930), Prokofiev (giving the premiere of his 3 Pieces Op.59), Paderewski, Landowska (playing Bach), Lotte Lehmann, Melchior (3), Schnabel (in Berlin in 1933), Gilels, Michelangeli (in 1938), Emil v Sauer, Moiseiwitsch, Rudolf Serkin  and Adolf Busch (at the Brussels Conservatory in 1935), Rudolf Kolisch, Carl Flesch, Stravinsky with Dushkin (unsigned), Hephzibah Menuhin (unsigned), Moura Lympany, Harriet Cohen (giving the premiere of Bax's Winter Legends in London), Nikolai Malko (conducting Shostakovich's First Symphony), Boult (conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1935), Bliss, George VI (in 1935), Carlo Felice Cillario, Johann Strauss III, Jongen, Yves Nat, Petrossian, Marex Liven, Louis Cahuzac, Nikolai Orloff, Michal Hambourg, Livine Mertens, Walter Rummel, Marcelle Meyer, Rogatchevsky, Jeanne Monfort, Charles Scharrès, Marie Muller, Lotte Leonhardt, Enrico de Muro Lomati, Jacob Flier and many others



c.130 items in all, including in two albums, each approximately 22-23 x 17cms, signed by artist with her monogram or initials "HBW.", mounted on card, some with concert programmes laid down on verso, many at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, and elsewhere, 1930-1938.

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."

This is a highly remarkable collection of portraits, drawn from life, depicting concerts in Brussels in the 1930s. The British-born Hilda Béatrice Wiener (née Samuel) lived at 126 avenue Louise in Brussels.  She regularly frequented concerts at the Palais des Beaux-Arts and the Conservatoire in the 1930s, assiduously recording details of the programmes and the famous composers, singers and musicians she shows performing.  See also the separate drawings of Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Casals, Segovia, Chaliapin and Stravinsky.  

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr Daniel Dratwa and Jacqueline Wiener in providing information about Hilda Wiener.