88: Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Splendid autograph Start Price EUR 3,000.00 Current Price EUR 3,200.00 Time Left - Bid Count 2 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, December 10, 2008 End Time Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Location Turin, Italy See more about '88: Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Splendid autograph' Description Current Lot Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Splendid autograph two-page letter, 8vo, signed by the great Italian composer, who expressed his deep thoughts and musical evaluations in this letter dated 'Parma, 29 Aprile 1843', and addressed to the musical critic Isidoro Cambiasi (1811-1853), who married the famous pianist Cirilla Branca (Felice Romani's sister in law): 'Sarei ben fortunato se potessi avere quel libretto inedito di cui Ella mi parla; anzi mi farà cosa grata, se, scrivendoao Romani, gli domandasse se sarebbe adottato per lo compagnia che canterà nel venturo carnevale o Venezia, poiché non sarà difficile che io scriva per quel teatro. Nel caso che sì, io mi recherei a Torino per combinare tutto...'. Actually, since April 9th, Verdi had accepted the proposal from the Teatro la Fenice and committed himself to findig a suitable subject for the Venetian theatre. In a letter dated July 9th, Verdi mentions King Lear, Il Corsaro or Fidanzata d'Abido as possible subject. However, Guglielmo Brenna, Secretary of the Teatro La Fenice was not happy with these proposals and suggested Com vello (from a novel by Walter Scott) as a subject, and Francesco Maria Piave as librettist. Yet, in September 1843, Mocenigo (President of the Teatro della Fenice) unsatisfied with the choices made and suggested Emani. This suggestion soon turned into reality: in autumn 1843 Verdi composed the opera using Piave's libretto and the opera had its successful première in Venice on 9 March 1844. Extremely interesting is the second part of this letter, which provides information about Nabucco (performing in Parma on 14 April with Strepponi singing as well); Linda di Chamounix, staged in Bologna; and Verdi's encounter with Donizetti: 'È inutile che io le parli di Bologna. Le dirò solo che sono restato con­tentissimo dello Linda eseguita dalla principesca famiglia Poniatoschi (sic), e mal contento dello spettacolo a1 Teatro Comu­nale. Ho visto il Sommo Maestro il quale parte presto per Parigi ed al ritorno si fermerà a Milano. A Parma il Nabucodonosor piace molto, e più de' suoi meriti'. Dispatched cover letter with cancellations. Lacuna due to the removal of the red wax seal. Precious historical document. Place a Bid!