MEYERBEER, Giacomo 1791-1864

Die Afrikanerin Oper in 5 Akten ... Klavierauszug Neue Ausgabe revidiert von Arno Kleffel. [Piano-vocal score]

Berlin: Ed. Bote & G. Bock in die Edition Peters aufgenommen [PNs 15731, 15731. 6633a], [1901].

Folio. Original publisher's cloth backed wrappers with publisher's catalogue to verso of lower. 1f. (recto title within decorative border printed in sepia, verso blank), 1f. (recto cast list and contents, verso blank), 5-328 pp. Text in German and French.

Upper wrapper lacking; chipping to edges of lower with corners lacking; tail of spine slightly torn; library pastedown to recto of lower wrapper. Title slightly worn and chipped with loss to corners; handstamp to lower margin of first three leaves.

Second version.

L'Africaine, to a libretto by Eugène Scribe, was first performed in Paris at the Opéra on 28 April 1865.

Meyerbeer was "the most frequently performed opera composer during the 19th century, linking Mozart and Wagner ... When [he] died suddenly ..., during rehearsals of his last opera, L’Africaine, the character of opera as an art was established beyond dispute. The style of grand opera developed by Meyerbeer was the recognized international model for music drama for almost a century." Matthias Brzoska in Grove Music Online.

Item #28884

Price: $30.00  other currencies