Lot 260
  • 260

G. DONIZETTI, AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO THE MANAGEMENT OF LA SCALA MILAN ABOUT "LUCREZIA BORGIA", 1833

Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
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Description

  • Donizetti, Gaetano
  • Autograph letter signed (“G. Donizetti”), about the singers in "Lucrezia Borgia", 11 September 1833
addressed to the Director of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, (“Eccellenza”, i.e. Carlo Visconti di Modrone), providing a list of all the singers and their parts for his forthcoming opera Lucrezia Borgia, reporting that the librettist Felice Romani has told him which singers are available at La Scala, assigning them their roles, and remarking that some of the minor parts could be filled by the better members of the chorus but that the others should be tenor and bass soloists ("...Due di queste seconde parti, potressimo scieglierle frà migliori coristi, ma le altre conviene che sieno Tenori, e Bassi...") 2 pages, 4to (c.25.3 x 21cm), Milan, 11 September 1833, very small tears to margins    

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."

Catalogue Note

Lucrezia Borgia was Donizetti's first major success at La Scala, premiered on 26 December 1833, with all the singers named here: Meric-Lalande, Luciano Mariani, Francesco Pedrazzi and Marietta Brambilla. Donizetti signed the contract for this opera with Visconti di Modrone on 10 October.