Gounod, Charles

the full score for voices and orchestra, notated in black ink on up to twenty-six staves per page, with alterations and additions by the composer in blue crayon, including phrasing, marks for the repeats, bar numbers and pagination:

1) Arioso [for Sapho], "Sois béni", a revised version, notated on eighteen staves per page, with the off-stage envoi for Phaon and chorus at the end, 11 pages, folio  



2) Chanson du Pâtre, "Brontez la thym", a revised version, on up to fourteen staves per page, 11 pages, folio



3) An additional scene for Pythéas, "Promenez vous dédains, enrages!...Moi, je reste", on two systems per page of thirteen-staves each, 14 pages, lacking the conclusion



4) "Sapho Airs de Danse No.4 [altered in crayon to "3"] (Course de Chasseresses) Le Corps de Ballet", on twenty staves per page, 13 pages



5) "Sapho Airs de Danse No.6 (Danse des Nymphes)...par le Corps de Ballet", 18 pages, folio,



6) Couplets (Pythéas), an additional air for the bass, Pythéas, 'Que Mars renounce à notre hommage", not in the original opera, notated on twenty staves per page, 12 pages, folio



79 pages, folio (c.35 x 27cm), 26-stave paper, [c. 1884]

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL AND ATTRACTIVE COLLECTION OF UNPUBLISHED MUSIC FOR "SAPHO".

There is no surviving complete autograph of the 1884 revision of Sapho, nor any edition.  This opera about the ancient Greek poetess was Gounod's first great critical success when staged in 1851, with the celebrated mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot in the title role.  His four-act revision in 1884 was never published, and the autograph manuscripts of his revisions are now dispersed: in Paris, Stockholm and New York.  The sections found here include Sapho's valedictory arioso "Sois béni", bidding farewell to Phaon.  Together they had conspired against the tyrant of the island of Lesbos, and when they are defeated, Phaon is forced to flee and Sapho casts herself into the sea; in this she follows a fine tradition of operatic heroines (which include Fenella, Senta and Tosca).  The original 1851 version of Sapho's farewell is found in Act 3 (pp.186-188 of the Choudens vocal score), followed by "Brontez le thym" (pp.189-191).  It was this final act in particular which attracted critical acclaim in 1851.