Leona Mitchell

Leona Mitchell (born October 13, 1949), African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano and an Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee. She is also a Grammy Award-winning soprano who sang for 18 seasons as a leading spinto soprano at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed by Mitchell and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1979 / Leona Mitchell / Soprano / Soloist in Symphony No 9, D minor by Ludwig Van Beethoven."

In 1973, she debuted as Micaela in Bizet's 1875 opera 'Carmen' with the San Francisco Opera, debuting on 15 December 1975 in the same role at the Metropolitan Opera. She sang the role of Bess in the first complete stereo recording of George Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' under Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra. It was also in this role that she earned her Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. She has contributed to several recordings, had television appearances, and served as honorary chair of Black Heritage Month of the Oklahoma legislature. In 1988 Leona Mitchell performed the role of Liù in 'Turandot' at the Metropolitan Opera under the direction of James Levine.

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.