French tenor and educator (1787-1866). 2 autograph documents signed and 1 autograph document. [Paris]. Small folio and 4to. Together 5½ pp. With an added letter of Charles Auguste Marie Ponchard.
$ 316 / 280 €
(90203/BN59654)
Interesting collection of documents relating to singing exams at the Paris Conservatory. Apparently Ponchard, who taught at the conservatory in Lille, was an external juror in Paris. The earliest dated but unsigned document, from 1840, concerns the class of Laurent-Joseph Morin. Ponchard lists the students with their examination pieces and comments regarding their voice and performance. Among the examined students was the tenor Henri Laget (1821-75), who later took over the class of Marco Bordogni at the conservatory.
- On 8 January 1842, Ponchard heard the students both of Morin and of the famous bass Nicolas-Prosper Levasseur (1791-1871), including the soprano Louise Rouvroy (1823-83), whose performance he criticized harshly: "Elle a une jolie voix, mais elle n'a pas toujours chanté juste; elle joue peu". - The final, undated document originated from an examination of the students of the Italian tenors David Banderali (1789-1849), Marco Bordogni (1789-1856) and possibly other classes (verso). - The date and some text on the verso were probably lost to slight trimmings of the upper and right borders. Some browning and occasional stains..