V. Bellini. Autograph letter signed to Pepoli, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1834

Vincenzo Bellini

Autograph letter signed ("Il tuo Bellini"), to Conte Carlo Pepoli ("Carluccio") in Paris, ABOUT I PURITANI

discussing what would be his final opera, I Puritani, for which he has extended the opening to the second part as it was too short, and made the choral section suitable for Giorgio's words, and making suggestions for the interaction of the choir and Giorgio in the lead-in to his romanza near the start of Act 2, describing Elvira's madness

...nel fare il coro che apre la parte 2:^da mi sono avvisto che è assai corto; quindi cerca d'allungarlo sino a otto versi, e cerca di fare un coro che possa esser degno dei versi che dice Giorgio: perfaci bene caro carino - se il libro verrà "un'eccellente pasticcio", almeno la poesia che non sia comune, ma dettata dal genio Pepolico! Hai capito?...

2 pages, 8vo, integral autograph address-panel, [Puteaux,] Friday morning, postmarked Neuilly-sur-Seine, 8 August 1834, a few small tears

Pepoli was the (inexperienced) librettist for Bellini's final opera, I Puritani, which premiered in Paris in January 1835.

LITERATURE

Carmelo Neri, Lettere di Vincenzo Bellini, letter 208 (giving the date 8 September 1834, "non si hanno notizie dell'autografo", and with slight spelling variants); Graziella Seminara, Vincenzo Bellini Carteggi, letter 320 (though the transcription omits the words "del publico" towards the end)