LEONETTO CAPPIELLO (1875-1942)
Conchita Supervia/Frasquita.
'The haughty sensuality of this Spanish dancer is captured with sunny aplomb by Cappiello, featuring the legendary Conchita Supervia (1895-1936) in the title role of Frasquitta, coincidentally the only light-opera appearance ever made by the sultry diva. The featherweight musical indulgence revolves around gypsy fascination, unjust accusation and, of course, eventual love. Supervia, possessing a magnetic personality as well as an exceptional voice, was the kind of artist around which legends gather. Making her debut two months before her fifteenth birthday with minor roles on the operatic stages of Buenos Aires, Conchita would go on to play leading roles in major Italian houses within a year. With a genuine mezzo-soprano range of more than two octaves and remarkable vocal agility as well as a demeanor that shunted dullness Supervia was marked for greatness. Outside of her superlative Rossini work, she was most famous for her turn as Carmen. She tragically died in childbirth in 1936. No doubt text banners were to be placed top and bottom with title and venues, but all extant copies of the poster are without text. The same image was used on the program covers' (Cappiello/Rennert, p. 307).
Imp. Devambez, Paris