Three-quarter length photograph of the Polish-born American soprano with autograph signature
Inscribed in blue /black ink: "To Miss Alice E.L. Wolff, Sincerely Rosa Raisa N.Y. 1921" at left margin. From the Daguerre Studio in Chicago, with their studio signature in the plate at lower left. 252 x 183 mm.
Inscription slightly smudged; minor remnants of mounting adhesive to verso.
Raisa was an American soprano of Polish birth. "When she was 14 she fled to escape a pogrom and settled in Naples, where she studied with Barbara Marchisio. She made her début as Leonora in Oberto during the 1913 Verdi celebrations at Parma. Later that year she sang Queen Isabella (Cristoforo Colombo) at Philadelphia; she then sang in Chicago (1913–14) and at Covent Garden in 1914. She sang regularly in Chicago, 1916–32 and 1933–6, appearing in the first American performances of Mascagni’s Isabeau, Montemezzi’s La nave and Respighi’s La fiamma. In 1936 she sang Leah in the American première of Rocca’s Il dibuk at Detroit. Engaged at La Scala, she created Asteria in Boito’s Nerone in 1924 and Turandot in 1926. She returned to Covent Garden in 1933 as Tosca, with her husband, Giacomo Rimini, as Scarpia. She was a thrilling singer and actress, and a great dramatic soprano." Harold Rosenthal in Grove Music Online
"Chicago's Daguerre Studios began operation in the early 20th century and appears to have specialised in portraits of actors, dancers, and other performers. One of the studio's photographers, Emily Gallagher, is said to have been the photographer of choice for female performers. Examples of the Daguerre Studio's portraits appear to be held mainly in American collections, such as the New York Public Library." Website of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, Australia.
Item #39177
Price: $75.00 other currencies