THOMAS, Ambroise 1811-1896

Psyché Nouvelle Partition Opéra en 4 Actes Représenté à l'Opéra Comique en Mai, 1878. Paroles de M.M. Jules Barbier & Michel Carré ... Partition Chant et Piano réduite par M.M. H. Salomon et R. de Vilbac. [Piano-vocal score]

Paris: Heugel & Fils [PN H. 4874], [ca. 1878].

Large octavo. Quarter maroon calf with marbled boards, spine in compartments gilt with titling, marbled endpapers. 1f. (decorative title printed in green and silver), 1f. (named cast list and table of contents printed in green), 2ff. (incipits), [i] (blank), 359, [i] (blank) pp.

Named cast includes Heilbron, Engally, Morlet, Bacquié, Chenevière, Irma Marié, Donadio-Fodor, Prax, and Collin.

Handstamps of Henri Heugel and Durand & Schoenwerk to lower right corner of title.

Binding slightly worn and rubbed. Occasional light foxing and soiling. An attractive, clean copy overall.

Second version. Lesure II pp. 152, 222-225. OCLC 21936559.

First performed in Paris at the Opéra-Comique on 26 January 1857 and later revised for a performance at the Opéra-Comique, 21 May 1878.

"In the late 1850s Thomas became a professor of composition at the Conservatoire and also had responsibility for its regional branches. From this period dates Psyché, which began life as a chamber opera but was first performed as a three-act opéra comique; it was expanded to four acts for performance at the Opéra [-Comique] in 1878."

"After years of neglect, Thomas’ work has seen a considerable revival in the last two decades of the 20th century, with major performances, at least of Mignon and Hamlet, being mounted in France, Great Britain and the USA. In the context of French opera of the late 19th century Thomas was a figure of considerable importance, an imaginative innovator and a master of musical characterization." Richard Langham Smith in Grove Music Online.

Item #25996

Price: $175.00  other currencies