Battistini (Mattia) King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings

An extraordinary selection of rare unsigned cabinet cards of Italian baritone Mattia Battistini in stage costumes, taken by prominent late 19th century photographic studios, including: Rembrandt in Warsaw (4); Lorens and Rentz & Schader in St Petersburg (5); Diagovchenko in Moscow (2); Montabone in Rome (3); Ambrosetti in Turin (1) and A. Bobone from Atelier Fillon in Lisbon (2), albumen prints, some age-related yellowing, light soiling, original mounts, some handling wear to margins and corners, stain to one, mid-horizontal creases to another, v.s.; with seven vintage black and white postcard photograph of Battistini in stage costumes, light handling wear; all c. 1890s-1910s (24)

***The collection reflects the international career of Battistini, who was particularly loved in pre-revolutionary Russia where he became a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and appeared in 23 performances between 1892 and the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Battistini enjoyed a considerable success also in the rest of Europe and appeared in Milan, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Paris. For a complete list of Battistini's performances, see Mattia Battistini Chronology by Thomas G. Kaufman in Chuilon (Jacques) Mattia Battistini: King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings, pp. 317-386, The Scarecrow Press, Lanhahm, Maryland, 2009.