- 133
Puccini, Giacomo
Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
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Description
- Puccini, Giacomo
- Eight autograph letters signed ("G. Puccini"; "GiacomoPuccini"), his first known letters to his great friend and confidante in London, Sybil Seligman ("amabilissima Signora")
- paper
writing from the Savoy Hotel, assuring her that he will stay in London until the first performance of Madama Butterfly, reporting the rehearsal schedule for the opera ("al maladetto CoventGarden"), discussing subjects that she has kindly suggested to him for operas, expressing enthusiasm to hear her account of a play by Kipling [The Light that Failed], but confessing that novels she mentions by Merimée, Tolstoy and Bulwer-Lytton do not suit to him; Puccini also arranges meetings and dinner engagements, excusing himself due to a previous engagement with the conductor Mugnone, encloses tickets for rehearsals, and conveys greetings to & from his wife Elvira, to her sister Violet and others
"...Ella è tanto gentile! Le ringrazio tanto d'essersi così subito occupato per me! Sentirò tanto volentieri da Lei il racconto del dramma di Kipling. Però non so dirle a che ora potrò passare da Lei. Le repétitions non mi lasciano libero che alle 6 circa... I libri di cui mi parla e Merimée, Anna Karenina, Pompei li conosco e non mi vanno. Grazie ancora per avermi pensato..."
14 pages, 8vo, printed stationery of the Savoy Hotel, London, one from 'Pagani's', mostly undated ("Giovedì sera", "Sabato ore 1 notte" etc), 22 October 1904 where dated [London, 1904-1905]
"...Ella è tanto gentile! Le ringrazio tanto d'essersi così subito occupato per me! Sentirò tanto volentieri da Lei il racconto del dramma di Kipling. Però non so dirle a che ora potrò passare da Lei. Le repétitions non mi lasciano libero che alle 6 circa... I libri di cui mi parla e Merimée, Anna Karenina, Pompei li conosco e non mi vanno. Grazie ancora per avermi pensato..."
14 pages, 8vo, printed stationery of the Savoy Hotel, London, one from 'Pagani's', mostly undated ("Giovedì sera", "Sabato ore 1 notte" etc), 22 October 1904 where dated [London, 1904-1905]
Literature
Vincent Seligman, Puccini among Friends (1938), pp.65, 68; Julian Budden, Puccini (2002), pp.275-276.
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Puccini met Sybil Seligman (1868-1935), the wife of an prominent London banker, in the summer of 1904. Although her relationship with Puccini was purely platonic, she "was destined to play a role in Puccini's life second only to that of Giulio Ricordi" (Budden, p.276). It is notable that, like Verdi and Brahms before him, his closest musical confidante was a woman. Evidently, right from the beginning of their correspondence, we find him discussing her frequent recommendations of opera subjects. Puccini was in London again in 1905, for the rehearsals for Madama Butterfly, which was given on 10 July.