Leyna Gabriele papers, 1940-2016

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Series IV: Personal memorabilia, 1940-2016

Series IV comprises a range of personal memorabilia including correspondence with friends and family, a copy of Gabriele's autobiography, material (documents and recordings) relating to performances by Gabriele's students and colleagues, photographs from Gabriele's travels, and materials relating to Gabriele's early, non-musical education (materials relating to Gabriele's vocal education, including recordings of singing lessons, are included in Series I). Gabriele kept many personal documents relating to her marriage to Vito Pisa; however, because these documents intersect so closely with her career at Chez Vito, these have been filed under Series III. This series closely documents Gabriele's social relationships both with the broader operatic community, but also with Italian and Italian-American culture.



Box 1 Folder 1-3 Students' recitals, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986-1994, 1996, 3 folders

Programs and publicity for concerts by Gabriele's students in a range of educational venues (SUNY Purchase and a range of other universities), community venues (libraries, church halls), and commercial venues (recital halls, theaters), both in and out of New York City.


Box 1 Folder 4 Piano-vocal score for The Proposal, 1955, 1983

Chamber opera with a libretto by Roger Brucker and music by Gerald Humel. Ringbound rental score. Includes a letter from the rental agent.



Box 14 Folder 6 Gabriele's fundraising for the Boys' Towns of Italy, 1972, undated

Also includes a magazine clipping about her efforts.


Box 14 Folder 7 Fairmont homecoming/commencement program, academic memorabilia, 1940-1942, 1944, 1947, 1995, 2004, undated

Material relating to Gabriele's education at Fairmont State College and East Fairmont High School.


Box 14 Folder 8 Libretto for the music drama Wine in My Blood by A.J. Comparado, 1977

Typewritten, bound.



Box 17 Folder 6 Travels: postcards and letters, family and friends, Italy, 1959-1960, 1973, 1977, undated

Blank postcards. Includes a few unrelated pieces of correspondence.


Box 17 Folder 7 Poetry by Carole Hebald, 1964, undated

Includes a program for Gabriele's recital "Music at the Honors College."


Box 17 Folder 8 Programs for the Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala, 1983

Two copies.



Box 20 Folder 1 Gabriele's autobiography My Life in Music: From Chez Vito to Baby Doe, 2016

Paperback. Published copy. Budapest: Fekete K Productions, 516 pages.


Box 20 Folder 2-5 Recital brochures of friends and colleagues, 1975, 1977, 1979-1980, 1982-1994, 1997, 2000-2003, 4 folders

Publicity and press materials relating to operas, plays, recitals, musicals (which her friends are performing in), or to baby showers, birthday celebrations, weddings, and banquets. Includes notes that came with the clippings and the envelopes that they were held in.



Box 21 Folder 1 Vacation photographs in Italy, 1981, 1993

Also includes a note removed from Item 103.


Box 21 Folder 2 Vacation photographs in Israel, circa 1991


Box 21 Folder 3 Family photos: DiTosti aunts, 1972, undated

Includes a newspaper clipping about the death of two DiTosti family members.


Box 21 Folder 4-5 Invitations to personal celebrations, 1956, 1972, 1976, 1986-1995, 1998-1999, 2001, 2003, 2 folders

To weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, banquets, balls, and other celebrations - sent by Gabriele's friends and colleagues.


Box 21 Folder 6 Nicholas Johnson in The Death of a Faun in London, 1993

Material sent to Gabriele from actor Nicholas Johnson about his one-man play The Death of a Faun about the last days of Nijinsky. Includes letters, programs, production photographs, and press clippings.



Box 25 Folder 5 A poster for Death of a Faun at the Royal Opera House, 1993

A one-man show by David Pownall starring Nicholas Johnson about the last days of Nijinsky.



Box 26 Item 21 "John Stamford: Mefistofele", 1969 September 21, 1 open reel audiotapes



Box 27 Item 27 "Celebrity Time: Total Time, 12:20", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes


Box 27 Item 31 "John [illegible]. Russian Melodies. About 2 [illegible]. Rest is blank.", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes


Box 27 Item 32 "Master Demo", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes

This item was not originally stored in a case and has been rehoused.


Box 27 Item 36 "Verdi, La Traviata, Act 1/2/3, Scotto", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes


Box 27 Item 39 unlabeled reel-to-reel tape, undated, 1 open reel audiotapes


Box 27 Item 53 "Joan Crawford Cinematographer: Show Reel 21.5", 1985 June 17, 1 items

Umatic tape. Text on label: "Please return to Joan Crawford"



Box 29 Item 88 "Philip Hallie Interviews DVD", undated, 1 compact disks

Includes a post-it note: "Phillip Haley DVD, re. philosophy understanding evil documentary. Maya anseton first."


Box 29 Item 95 "Greg Valtespino recital, 2009", 2009, 1 compact disks

Includes a post-it note: "Mich said OK for Carole and I to figure out what to do with these (don't involve her)."


Box 29 Item 96 "Thanksgiving in Fairmont, 1987", 1987, 1 compact disks


Box 29 Item 97 "FSU homecoming pics 2004", 2004, 1 compact disks

Includes a business card for Patty Pitrolo, Director of Major Gifts at Fairmont State University annotated "Photos to be Made."


Box 29 Item 98 "Meravigliosa Italia, U.S. version, final", 2006 August 11-August 31, 2006 October 5, 1 compact disks


Box 29 Item 99 "Meravigliosa Italia", 2006 August 11-August 31, 1 compact disks

The back of the label reads: "1. Meravigliosa Italia [21:35]: Selected pictures from throughout the entire trip, August 11-31, shown for 1.5 seconds each. Music: audio excerpts from video clips taken of the Bagnoli lower square concert, August 22, 2006. 2. Ristorante da Rina [02:15]: Selected pictures shown for 1 second each highlighting the spirit and generosity of Rina Vecchniarelli. Music: 'Dinner' from 'The Big Night' Movie Soundtrack. 3. La chiesa di Sant Egidio e Padre Luciano [4:36]: Selected pictures shown for 4 seconds each highlighting Padre Luciano, his church, and his little piece of heaven. Music: audio excerpts taken from the mass given by Padre Luciano on location August 14, 2006. 4. Sempre Italia [04:04]: Selected pictures shown at 4 seconds each, highlighting the entire trip, August 11-13, 2006. Music: 'Sempre Libre' [sic.] from 'La Traviata.' 5. Bagnoli [11:34]: Selected pictures shown at 4 seconds each, highlighting the town of Bagoli, it's [sic.] people, and the festivities during August 15-22, 2006. Music: audio excerpts from videos taken in and around Bagnoli from August 15-22, 2006. 6. Vernazza [06:45]: Video clips from and around the apartment terrace in Vernazza. 7. Video Clips [26:54]: Miscellaneous video clips from various times and places throughout the trip, August 11-31, 2006. Produced and recorded by Nero Productions, GlobalPhotoSolutions, Budapest, September 2006.


Box 29 Item 100 "Fairmont State: homecoming 2004", 2004, 1 compact disks


Box 29 Item 101 "Instant Music Productions: Song by Ben Di Tosti and Michael Dees. B. Di Tosti. When I Look at You, w/ Male Vocal. Copyright 2008, Thematic Music", 2008, 1 compact disks


Box 29 Item 102, 109 "Ben Di Tosti: Solo Jazz Piano. Jazz Improvisations, Volume 1", 2000, 2 compact disks

The back of the label reads: "Ben Di Tosti. Solo Jazz Piano, Volume 1. 1. S'Wonderful, 3:20. 2. Straight No Chaser, 3:41. 3. Poinciana, 5:49. 4. All The Things You Are, 3:12. 5. Doxy, 4:36. 6. The Way You Look Tonight, 5:16. 7. Midnight Sun, 4:32. 8. Billie's Bounce, 4:29. 9. Fur Elise, 4:14. 10. Days of Wine and Roses, 5:27. 11. My Secret Love, 8:01. 12. Con Te Partito, 6:01. 13. Easy Living, 3:33. 14. Encore: S'Wonderful ver 2, 4:48. Recorded at Barking Dog Studio, June 17, July 7 and 14, 1999. Engineer: Rob Strickland. Mastering: Arthur Alexander at Arteksound Studio, Burbank, Ca. Computer Specialist: Dave Weisman."


Box 29 Item 103 "Dick's DVD. Sports Report, re: Italy trip + Bagnioli", undated, 1 compact disks

A piece of correspondence from "Dick" was found inside and moved to Box 21 Folder 1.


Box 29 Item 118 "Daddy's 80th Birthday Party", undated, 1 audiocassettes



Box 30 Item 123 "Greek Popular Song", undated, 1 phonograph records

Label includes Greek lettering with transliteration. Label reads: "Columbia Records. Greek Popular Song. Mesa Stin Zall Tou Kraslou (T. Demetriades). Testo Demetriades meta tis orhistras tou." The lamination is damaged on this disk.


Box 30 Item 124 Lizzie Borden , undated, 1 phonograph records

Opera by Jack Beeson and Kenward Elmslie. New York City Opera. Conducted by Anton Coppola. Starring: Brenda Lewis, Ellen Faull, Ann Elgar, Herbert Beattie, Richard Redericks, and Richard Krause. Desto Records. Includes liner notes with the libretto.