Giuseppe Verdi | Three autograph letters signed, including to Vincenzo Torelli, 1855-1861

Giuseppe Verdi

Three autograph letters signed ("G Verdi"), including to Vincenzo Torelli

i) to an unidentified correspondent, explaining that he has been ill, and that he is returning his libretto 'without having been able to admire and fully savour the beauties which are certainly scattered all over it', regretting that on account of his obligations he will be unable to set it to music, and noting that others will be more fortunate than he was

"...Mi faccio quindi un dover di restituirle il suo libretto senza aver potuto completamente ammirare e gustare le bellezze che saranno certamente sparse ne suoi versi..."

1 page, 8vo (20.8 x 13.3cm), integral blank, modern typed transcription and English translation, Paris, 14 July 1855, horizontal and vertical folds, tiny tear to outer edge of first leaf, small tear to integral

ii) to the Superintendent of the Royal Theatres in Naples, CONCERNING THE LIBRETTO OF UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, stating that he handed over the verses of his libretto for the approval of the authorities twenty-three days ago, on the morning of his arrival at Naples, but has since heard nothing, asking therefore to be informed of the decision so that he can make plans accordingly, referring also to the vague and contradictory rumours he has heard and which are keeping him in an uncertain state of mind

"...Ella comprende benissimo il mio interesse per conoscere il vero stato delle cose, giacchè il mio trattenimento in Napoli, gl'impegni che mi richiamo altrove, le voci vaghe e contradittorie della strada, e la nissuna comunicazione da parte dell'Impresa, di cui non veggo tampoco alcun componente da moltissimi giorni mi tengono in uno stato anormale ed indeciso..."

2 pages, 4to (27.7 x 19.7cm), integral blank, modern typed transcription and English translation, Naples, 5 February 1858, horizontal and vertical folds, traces of mount to integral, light browning

iii) to his friend Vincenzo Torelli, ABOUT UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, posing the question how much he would like to stage Un ballo in maschera in Naples, but noting that some sort of accident might prevent his coming, asking for the date and time of the first performance, enquiring who will be the page and whether he will be paid two thousand ducats, and wondering from whom they will have got the score

"...Quanto verrei voluntieri a mettere in scena il Ballo in maschera a Napoli? Ma in questi giorni accade cosa, una disgrazia un danno forse che me lo potrà impedire..."

1 page, 8vo (20.7 x 13.1cm), integral autograph address-panel, red seal, modern typed transcription and English translation, Busseto, 26 January 1861, seal tears with some loss of paper, large hole to address-panel, affecting text in a few places, splitting along vertical folds

The libretto of Verdi's opera Un ballo in maschera (by Antonio Somma, after Scribe's libretto for Auber's Gustave III) was subject to a number of changes by the Naples censorship, which ultimately proved unacceptable to the composer. After winning a legal case against the theatre management Verdi was able to take his opera elsewhere (it was given its first performance at the Teatro Apollo in Rome, on 17 February 1859).

Vincenzo Torelli was secretary of the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, and the owner of a Neapolitan newspaper ('L'Omnibus') in which he wrote on musical matters.