Important Manuscripts, Continental Books and Music

Important Manuscripts, Continental Books and Music

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 85. G. Rossini, autograph letter about Donizetti conducting his "Stabat Mater", 1842.

G. Rossini, autograph letter about Donizetti conducting his "Stabat Mater", 1842

Auction Closed

December 3, 04:27 PM GMT

Estimate

1,500 - 2,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

ROSSINI, GIOACHINO

Autograph letter about Donizetti and the "Stabat Mater", signed ("G. Rossini"), 26 February 1842


to Giacomo Pedroni of Ricordi’s, expressing his great delight that Donizetti might conduct the Italian premiere at Bologna, saying he would be fêted like a bridegroom and make him reconsider his opinion of the city, discussing the principal singers for the performance and their travel arrangements ("...Sarebbe vero che Donizetti voglia venire a Bologna? Per Dio se ciò fosse vero io sarei il più beato degli uomini, dille che a lui confiderei il mio Stabat; che egli me lo diriggerà, le offro in Cambio la mia vita e quanto posesso al mondo, sarebbe egli onorato e festeggiato come lo marito e si ricrederebbe forse sulle false impressioni di cui [è] tutt’ora in Preda..."


2 pages, 4to (c.25 x 20cm), integral autograph address leaf ("Al Signore / Il Sigr Maestro Pedroni”), Bologna, 26 February 1842, splitting along folds, some repaired with white tape, small seal tear


The Stabat Mater was one of Rossini’s most important later works. He did not hear the first public performance in Paris on 7 February 1842. A few weeks later he wrote to Donizetti asking him to come to Bologna to conduct it, putting his house at his disposal. Donizetti directed three very successful performances in Bologna on 18-20 March. Rossini’s long-term aim was to persuade Donizetti to assume the directorship of the Liceo Musicale in Bologna. Giacomo Pedroni worked for Ricordi, liaising with composers about performances of their works; Rossini addresses him in the familiar “tu” form, according him the title "Maestro", which usually means a composer or conductor.