WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY 25 & 26 July 2020

156 History 287 Count John McCormack (1884-1945) - a unique and valuable archive of original letters, photographs, and ephemera. The collection includes original important letters from 1905 to 1909 from McCormack to his friend JC Doyle, well known baritone from Dublin, with interesting content regarding McCormack’s training in Milan and his early career in London, a 1903 letter to W Sheehan boasting of his talents, 1920 letter from Franklin D Roosevelt concerning a banquet for the tenor, one of McCormack’s famous ‘black books’ - a looseleaved collection of lyrics, many in his own hand, which he used as an aide memoire when performing on stage, several important programmes, some signed by McCormack, including his 25th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 24 April 1932, a collection of photographs, including examples by Howard Lister, G Felici, and others as well as original press prints, etc. Condition: Very good condition, housed in custom made leather and gilt albums and presentation boxes John McCormack, (born June 14, 1884, Athlone, County Westmeath; died September 16, 1945, Dublin), was an Irish singer who was considered to be one of the finest tenors of the 20th century. McCormack won a prize at the National Irish Festival (the Feis Ceoil) in Dublin in 1903. Later he studied in Italy. He made his London operatic debut in 1907 at Covent Garden as Turiddu in Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana. He appeared at the Manhattan Opera House, New York City, in 1909 as Alfredo in Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata. Subsequently he sang with opera companies in Chicago and Boston and with the Metropolitan Opera , New York City. In 1911 he toured Australia with Nellie Melba performing Italian opera. He later turned to the concert stage and became a fine singer of German lieder. Most popular with recital audiences were the Irish folk songs he invariably included in his programs. He was admired for the beauty of his voice and for his careful musicianship. He became a U.S. citizen in 1919 and was made a count in the papal peerage in 1928. Estimate €40000-€60000 (approx £36,360-£54,550) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 287