SCHLESINGER JOHN: (1926-2003) English film, television and theatre Director. Academy Award for Best Director for Midnight Cowboy (1969). A very fine and unusual signed 8 x 6 photograph by Schlesinger, the image showing him standing in a three-quarter length pose, talking to Herbert von Karajan, seated alongside, in a half length pose. The image corresponds to the 1989 rehearsals of Verdi?s Un Ballo in Maschera (1859). Signed in bold black ink to a clear area of the image. VG

Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philarmonic for 34 years.

John Schlesinger and Herbert von Karajan collaborated to stage Verdi?s Un Ballo in Maschera for the 1989 Salzburg Festival. Karajan oversaw the concept and rehearsals but passed away days before the premiere. Sir Georg Solti took over musical direction, while Schlesinger's lavish staging featured tenor Pl?cido Domingo