BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van 1770-1827

[Op. 138]. Ouverture in C. componirt im Jahr 1805 zur Oper: Leonore... 138tes Werk. Aus dem Nachlass. Partitur ... No. 5141. Eingetragen in das Archin[!] der vereinigten Musikalienhändler. [Full score].

Wien: Tobias Haslinger [PN T.H.] 5141, [early 1838].

Folio. Early stiff blue wrappers with octagonal label titled in manuscript to upper. 1f. (title), 48, [ii] (blank) pp. Engraved. Price: "f 3._C.M." above "[Reichsthaler sign] 2._". Rehearsal letters A to O added in pencil with numerous performance annotations in red crayon. Penciled inventory of parts to last page, related to a performance on October 13, [18]92 and signed "Felchner."

Spine reinforced with black cloth tape. Handstamp "Musikbibliothek der Universität Gießen" to upper wrapper and first page of music. Small yellow sticker to upper left corner of title with manuscript shelfmark "VI. 13," with same shelfmark also added in manuscript to label on upper wrapper. Printed titling "Ouverture" to first page of music extended in pencil: "zu" [crossed out "Ele"] "Leonore." Some pages slightly skewed. Some soiling and foxing.

A very good copy overall.

First Edition. Rare. LvBWV v. 1, pp. 436-437. Hoboken 2, 537. Hirsch IV, 419. Beethoven-Haus C 138/1 and Van der Spek collection. The misspelling "Archin" (for "Archiv") on the title seems to have gone unnoticed by Beethoven bibliographers though the two copies held at the Beethoven-Haus carry it as well.

Gustav Adolf Felchner (1832-96) was music director at the University of Gießen, Germany, from 1874 to his death; some of the annotations are most likely in his hand.

This overture is generally known as "Leonore no. 1." It is now dated 1807 and is chronologically the third of the three "Leonore" overtures. It was not performed during Beethoven's lifetime.

Item #23017

Price: $1,800.00  other currencies