A collection of 12 autographs of renowned opera singers in 9 items, all collected from the 1930s to the 1980s by the late Bryan Paul Fortescue of Cambridge UK (who usually preferred the name Paul Fortescue): (a) Kirsten Flagstad, the renowned Norwegian soprano and one of the greatest Wagnerian operatic singers of the 20th century. Signed photograph in the role of Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (photo originally taken in San Francisco, 1937): Inscribed "Bryan Fortescue, sincerely yours Kirsten Flagstad". (b) Kirsten Flagstad, signed complete opera programme, Tristan und Isolde, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 28 May 1949. With 4 contemporary newspaper clippings about the singer and the opera loosely inserted. (c) Eva Turner, the great dramatic soprano opera singer: Inscribed "Best wishes Eva Turner or Turandot, 1939" in complete Royal Opera, Covent Garden programme. With contemporary newspaper clipping about the singer and the opera loosely inserted. (d) Eva Turner: Inscribed "Every good wish! Eva Turner (Turandot)" in complete Royal Opera House, Covent Garden programme, Turandot, 28 June 1947. (f) Eva Turner: Inscribed "To Paul Fortescue, All best wishes, kindest thoughts, Eva Turner" and at the bottom of the same page, in her hand: "What memories this programme aroused!" In complete Covent Garden Opera programme, Turandot, performed at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, week commencing 8 September 1947. The warmth of this inscription suggests that Eva Turner recalled her earlier programme signatures for Paul Fortescue (perhaps after prompting by him when he approached her with his programme after this performance!) (g) Hans Hotter, Maria Cebotari and Erich Kunz, scarce page in complete opera programme signed by all three of the celebrated opera singers: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, 4 October 1947, The Marriage of Figaro. (h) Margherita Grandi, an Australian-born Italian soprano, signed in the complete opera programme, The Glyndebourne Opera, Macbeth, at the Edinburgh International Festival, 28 August 1947. (i) Margherita Grandi, signed photograph. (j) Ghena Dimitrova and Renato Bruson, opera singers, signed in the complete opera programme, Macbeth, Royal Opera House, 12 July 1985. The conductor Edward Downes has also signed a different page under his name. Together with * Nine 1930s German opera programmes and magazines, all in original decorative wrappers, illustrated and with original advertisements, as follows: Hamburgische Staatsoper, 1935; Sächsische Staats Opernhaus, Dresdentheater, 1936 (2 different programmes); Deutsches Opernhaus, Berlin, 1936; Staatstheater Berlin, 1936; Preussisches Staatstheater Kassel, 1936; Blätter der Staatsoper, Berlin, 1936; Städtische Bühnen, Erfurt, 1936/37; Die Theater Welt, Düsseldorf 1936/37. Uncommon and decorative.