Reri Grist

Reri Grist (February 29, 1932), American coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed by Grist and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1973 / Reri Grist / Singing Stzavinsky's 'The Nightingale.'"

Grist's official staged operatic debut was at the Santa Fe Opera in 1959, as Adele in Die Fledermaus followed by Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Igor Stravinsky heard her there and invited her to perform his Le Rossignol with him conducting with the Washington Opera Society. Her European debut in 1960 was as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Cologne Opera. She was a member of the Zurich Opera from 1960–1966 where she first sang roles including Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier) and Adina (L'Elisir d'Amore). After her successes in Zurich, she found herself much in demand, making her debut in 1962 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in Le Coq d'Or and at the Glyndebourne Festival as Despina in Così Fan Tutte. Then followed the Vienna State Opera in 1963, where she performed during twenty five seasons. In the same year she first appeared at the San Francisco Opera as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Throughout twelve following seasons she appeared in roles among which were Gilda in Rigoletto, Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera, Manon in Massenet's Manon, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Zerbinetta and Adina.

In 1964, Grist debuted at the Salzburg Festival as Zerbinetta and performed throughout twelve seasons in Mozart operas conducted by Karl Böhm, Zubin Mehta and Herbert von Karajan. Her characterisations included Susanna, Despina, Blondchen and Papagena (in The Magic Flute). Her Metropolitan Opera debut took place on February 25, 1966, as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Her other roles at the Met included, Adina, Norina (Don Pasquale), Gilda (Rigoletto), Olympia (Les contes d'Hoffmann), Oscar, Sophie and Zerbinetta.

Grist ended her operatic career in 1991 at De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam in the one-woman opera, Neither composed by Morton Feldman to a text by Samuel Beckett and directed by Pierre Audi.

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.