Existing comment:
Giuseppe De Luca as Rigoletto, 1915.
Popularizing Opera Stars
As the photographic and publication industries developed in the early twentieth century, post-card-sized images of many of the leading stars of the world's major opera houses were produced for the mass market. These examples are typical: the singers are among the most distinguished of the day, and they are shown costumed for roles with which they were closely identified. The images include portrait-style poses as well as "action shots" -- some of them extremely dramatic. These souvenirs show operas that not only enjoyed public favor a century ago but which remain very popular. |