CARUSO, ENRICO. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("ENRICO CARUSO"), TO SIG. FANO

explaining that he has been confined to bed unable to read letters, that it was too late to comply with the request in his last letter and explaining his difficulty in undertaking any more engagements this season; he relays the good wishes of his girl-friend Ada Giachetti 2 pages, 8vo, docketed by the recipient “1902/Caruso/Milano”, no place or date. With a postcard photograph signed and inscribed (“Enrico Caruso New York 1906”).

Autograph letters of Caruso, particularly from the early part of his career, are rare. In 1902 in Milan the singer performed in the premiere of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur and in the following year made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, where he was the star for successive seasons until the end of his career in 1920. In 1906 he was fined for committing an indecent act with a woman in the monkey house in Central Park. Some authorities claim these charges were trumped up. Despite the initial outrage, he maintained his role at the Met for many seasons.