CHALIAPIN FEODOR (1873-1938), AUTOGRAPH [ON THE CENTENARY OF AMERICAN TOURING] Handwritten letter addressed to Solomon Gurkov. Paris, July 31, 1924.

2 pages. In Russian. Signed at the end of the text: F. Chaliapin. In good condition. Folding marks. Letter from Russian opera singer Feodor Chaliapin, sent from Paris on July 31, 1924. The addressee is the famous American impresario Sol Yurok (Solomon Gurkov; 1888-1974). It was he who organized F. Chaliapin’s concerts in the United States in 1921-1927. The letter mentions the fees for 35 performances by the singer: $3,000 for one main concert and $2,000 for one additional performance. The fee turned out to be enormous. Feodor Chaliapin was capricious, refusing to sing. Several performances were canceled as a result. However, S. Yurok still managed to find a way to persuade the artist and skillfully organize an advertising campaign. Chaliapin’s concert at the Metropolitan Opera was a huge success. Subsequently, only S. Yurok organized the American tours of the brilliant singer.