GÖRING HERMANN: (1893-1946) German Political & Military Leader of the Nazi Party. A very interesting D.S., Göring, three pages, folio, Berlin, 26th June 1934, in German. The partially printed document is a contract hiring Alexander Kipnis to perform at the Berlin State Opera from 1st October 1934 until 31st August 1937 and establishes full terms and conditions. Signed in bold black ink by Göring in his capacity as Minister President of Prussia. The contract remained unsigned by Kipnis. With revenue stamp to the upper left corner. Professionally mended and reinforced at the joint. VG £600-800

Alexander Kipnis (1891-1978) Jewish Russian born Bass. Despite anti-semitism in Bayreuth, Jewish performers such as Alexander Kipnis and Emanuel List performed in Parsifal during the 1933 Festival. When all Jewish artists were dismissed from the Berlin State Opera on June 1933, Kipnis and List were allowed to remain, thus Kipnis was still under contract in Spring 1934. Kipnis broke this contract in 1935 and flee Nazi Germany