BIZET, Georges 1838-1875

La Jolie Fille de Perth Opera en 4 Actes de MM. de Saint-Georges & J. Adenis ... Partition Chant & Piano Arrangée par H. Salomon. [Piano-vocal score]

Paris: Choudens Père et Fils [PN A.C. 1523, 2795], [ca. 1930].

Large octavo. Original publisher's decorative ivory wrappers printed in blue. 1f. (recto title within decorative border, verso blank), 1f. (recto named cast lists and contents, verso blank), 250 pp. Some leaves unopened.

Named cast for 1867 production includes Devriès, Ducasse, Massy, Barré, Lutz, Wabtel, and Guyot and for the 1890 production Cécile Mézeray, Bossy, Engel, Frédéric Boyer, Isnardon, Ferran, Portejoie, and Belen.

Wrappers slightly soiled; some wear to spine. Browned; edges very slightly frayed.

Re-issue of the edition of ca. 1890.

In four acts to a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jules Adenis after Walter Scott ’s novel The Fair Maid of Perth, La Jolie Fille de Perth was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique on 16 December 1867 under the direction of Carvalho and in 1890 under the direction of Verdhurt.

"La jolie fille de Perth was commissioned by Carvalho, director of the Théâtre Lyrique, in July 1866, the choice of libretto being fixed by the terms of the contract. The commission confirmed Carvalho’s faith in Bizet following Les pêcheurs de perles in 1863 and the unfinished Ivan IV in the intervening years. The librettists were experienced men of the theatre, especially Saint-Georges, yet the libretto is notoriously free in its treatment of Scott’s novel and loose in its dramatic structure. Bizet was well aware of its faults and was unenthusiastic about the verse, yet he set to work with great energy and completed the score before the end of 1866." Hugh Macdonald in Grove Music Online.

Item #29500

Price: $30.00  other currencies