V. BELLINI, AUTOGRAPH LETTER ABOUT "NORMA", SIGNED ("BELLINI"), BERGAMO: 20 AUGUST 1832

to Baron Denois, the French Consul at Milan, confirming the imminent staging of "Norma" at Bergamo on 22nd of August, telling him how pleased both he and his soprano Giuditta Pasta are to learn that the Baron will attend the performance on the 25th, that he has arranged a box for him on the third row and that he has conveyed the Baron’s greetings to Madame Pasta, who returns the compliment (“...La Norma vá in scena il giorno 22:, ed in quello del 25: e 26: vi sará anche Norma...Ho goduto assai nel sentire la vostra risoluzione di venire costi il giorno 25: ed anche M[adam]a Pasta, alla quale ho presentato i vostri complimenti…”)                                                     1 page, 8vo (c.20.5 x 13.3cm), integral autograph address leaf ("Monsieur le Baron Denois Consul General de France à Milan"), watermarked stationery ("Finsou & Blossau Edenburg"), red seal, postmarked, annotated by recipient on the address leaf, Bergamo, 20 August [1832], staining to corners from tape mounts,  

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."

UNPUBLISHED: not in Vincenzo Bellini Carteggi, edited by G. Seminara (2017); nor in the editions by L. Cambi and C. Neri.  Norma is recognized as Bellini’s masterpiece, and his letters from this crucial time in his career are relatively scarce.  Bellini supervised the very successful staging of Norma in Bergamo on 22 August 1832, with Giuditta Pasta reprising the title role she had created at La Scala only eight months earlier.