Olga Iglesias

Known as the soprano who has most performed in Pablo Casals’ oratorio El Pessebre, Olga Iglesias, the youngest of eight children born to Rafael Iglesias Normandín and María Victoria Antoni Rodriguez, was born on March 22, 1929 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Raised in a musical household, Olga was exposed to music at an early age and showed talent in singing. At the age of 14, she was already performing in front of her classmates and teachers at school functions. Around this age she began to study with esteemed Puerto Rican tenor Antonio Paoli and afterwards with Spanish soprano Ángeles Ottein. In the 1947 season, Olga made her public debut on May 4, 1947 at La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico, during the first annual “The Week of Music”. At this occasion she sang Verdi’s Caro Nome from Rigoletto and Ah! for’se lui from La Traviata. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed by Iglesias and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1973 / Olga Iglesias singing P. Casal's Song "El Angel Travieso / Festival Casals of Puerto Rico at Carnegie Hall / June 22, 1973."

George 'Georges' Krishizki (March 22, 1924 – December 20, 2001), Russian-Polish-American illustrator who came to the U.S. in 1949. While he earned acclaim for his renderings of the city’s architectural landmarks, it was his on-the-spot drawings of musicians in performance that attracted an especially appreciative audience. In a 1973 article published in conjunction with two simultaneous exhibitions, Georges explained the genesis of his long-running engagement with the concert hall: “I’ve always enjoyed going to concerts, and one day I decided it would be fun to combine my interests in music and art and make sketches of musicians during performances.”  Indeed, the most remarkable feature of Georges’ oeuvre, apart from the astounding range of performers who gladly expressed their approval and appreciation by signing, is the skill with which the drawings are accomplished.

This original pen and ink illustration, measuring approximately 9 x 12, on heavy-weight sketch paper, is in fine condition with some light overall toning. Its verso is blank and clean.