Le Jeu des 4 Opéras
Characters from five famous operas brought alive in artist Silvia Maddonni’s inimitable style.
Although the title of this pack would suggest that only four operas are covered by this pack, there are in fact five if one counts the two Jokers (Carmen). In keeping with the subject matter and artist Silvia Maddonni’s style, the characters depicted appear larger than life, with small heads and extravagant costumes. Apart from Carmen, the operas featured are The Magic Flute (H), Rigoletto (S), The Tales of Hoffmann (D), and The Golden Cockerel (C). Scenery appropriate to each opera appears faintly in the background of each pip card. A stage curtain forms the back design. The plots and principal characters of the operas are described in the extensive bilingual leaflet. See the French leaflet • English leaflet►
Above: Le Jeu des 4 Opéras playing cards designed by Silvia Maddonni, made and published by France Cartes, 1989. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card + leaflet in French and English, in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. There are two alternative back colours.
See the box►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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