G. Meyerbeer, Autograph manuscript of a variant version of part of no.21 of "Robert le Diable", 1831 or later

MEYERBEER, GIACOMO

Autograph manuscript of a variant version of the chorus section of no.21 from Act V of Robert le Diable

a working manuscript, notated in brown ink in draft score on systems of varying size, the heading "5.eacte Robert le Diable" in another hand, some bars containing only text

4 pages, folio (c.31 x 23cm), 14-stave "LARD" paper, no place or date, 1831 or later, horizontal and vertical folds, light browning, tiny tear to lower margin of first leaf together with:

Robert le Diable. Opéra en 5 Actes...Partition de Piano, arrangée par J. P. Pixis. Paris: Schlesinger, [1831], FIRST EDITION OF THE VOCAL SCORE, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed in another hand on the verso of the front free endpaper to the singer Adolphe Nourrit ("À son ami Adolph Nourrit, le sublime interprète de Robert-Le Diable...offert par l'auteur"), marked up for performance, with extensive cuts detailed in pencil and red crayon, some pencil vocal embellishments, 407 pages, folio (c.35 x 26cm), engraved music, lithographed title, plate number 1157, rebacked retaining publisher's printed boards, browning and light spotting to margins, boards worn

Robert le Diable, premiered at the Paris Opéra on 21 November 1831, was Meyerbeer's first grand opera, and as such a seminal work in the the history of nineteenth century dramatic music. The present manuscript transmits a variant text for part of no.21 from Act V, one which diverges from the vocal score of 1831. In this variant several passages are cut, and it is of interest that these cuts are also indicated in the heavily marked up vocal score included here, a presentation score for Adolphe Nourrit, who created the role of Robert in the opera.