291 - THILL (Georges) (1897–1984). Famous French tenor. Original photograph, autographed and signed, commemorating a visit to the Champy wine cellar.

THILL (Georges) (1897–1984). Famous French tenor. Original photograph, autographed and signed, commemorating a visit to the Champy wine cellar. Paris, June 6, 1943. Original black-and-white photograph, 13 × 18 cm, showing a head-and-shoulders portrait of Georges Thill, dressed in a dark suit and tie. Portrait taken by Studio Harcourt, bearing its mark in the lower left corner and the credit for photographer R. Voinquel in the lower right corner. A beautiful autograph inscription in black ink, written diagonally in the lower right corner of the portrait, addressed to Mr. Murat as a memento of a visit to the Champy wine cellar, where the two men were received “like kings, with the utmost cordiality.” The inscription is signed “G. Thill” and dated June 6, 1943. Georges Thill was one of the greatest French tenors of the 20th century. A student of the famous Neapolitan tenor Fernando De Lucia, he made a name for himself on the world’s leading opera stages, notably at the Paris Opera, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His powerful voice, exceptional diction, and the nobility of his performances earned him considerable renown in both the French and Italian repertoires. This beautiful Harcourt portrait, enhanced by a personal and detailed dedication, offers an interesting glimpse into the singer’s friendships during the Occupation, a few years before the end of his stage career. This proof copy shows some slight signs of handling and minor surface marks, mainly in the darker areas. The dedication is well-preserved, though the contrast is faint in places.