Italian composer (1813-1901). Autograph letter signed. Genoa. 8vo. 2¼ pp. on bifolium. Written in ink.
4.200 €
(88563/BN58454)
To Count Opprandino Arrivabene (1807-87), writing in the aftermath of "La semaine sanglante" which marked the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871. Arrivabene was Verdi's close friend, and appears to have been in Paris for the events of Spring 1871 while Verdi was in Florence; the tone of the letter is nonetheless light to start. He wishes his friend a good Easter, and hopes to confess the acts of impatience committed while Verdi was in Florence ("Buona Pasqua; e vatti a confessare almeno tutte gli atti d'impazienza commesi nel tempo che io sono a Firenze").
Verdi exclaims, "io peccato abbastanza? Povero arrivabene!", and explains that "Mazzucato è stato qui ieri, e abbiamo lavorato ancora al Regolamento." Mazzucato was likely Alberto Mazzucato (1813-77), who had retired from composition after his last opera, "Hernani", but who evidently remained involved with fellow composers of his day. - Business having been discussed, Verdi turns to the news of the Paris Commune: Why did Arrivabene not say anything about France? It could have been much worse! "Ben peggio del 93! Allora si trattava d'acquistare e rassodare una libertà che non avevano ancora avuto; en non avevano sofferto tanti desastri, nè avevano un nemico in casa!". One day, Verdi tells his friend, one will not be able to believe such infamy ("questa nefandità"). - Gently creased at folds; ink has faintly bled through. Date of letter pencilled onto blank final page in modern hand..
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Aida. Grand opéra en quatre actes. Paroles françaises de MM. Du Locle & Nuitter.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
First French edition: a precious copy signed by the composer during the first performance in French. The signature "G. Verdi" is in the upper right corner of the table of contents beneath the stamp "Souvenir of 22 March 1880". Verdi undoubtedly offered his closest collaborators copies of the score on the occasion of the French staging of the opera, directed by the composer himself at the Palais Garnier in the presence of the entire Parisian world of art, literature, finance, and government. - "Aida" was composed for the inauguration celebration of the Suez Canal, based on a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, and was first staged at the Cairo Opera House (in Italian) on Christmas Eve, 1871. The editorial history of the score is a complex one: the work was first published in Italian by Ricordi in 1872 and then reissued the same year in France (again in Italian) by Léon Escudier, who immediately produced several adaptations and instrumental or vocal arrangements (in French). The French première (in Italian) took place in 1876. On the occasion of the performance in 1880, Verdi gave more prominence to the ballet parts, and Escudier published six pages of additional music, printed and numbered separately and inserted between pages 124 and 125 of the original score. With this addition, also present in this copy, "Aida" reached its definitive form. - First and last pages somewhat foxed, extremeties slightly rubbed, otherwise in fine condition. From the collection of Pierre Bergé with his bookplate on the front pastedown.