LA GRASSA, Louis ?-1889

Anne of Austria. Grand Historical Opera (in three acts) ... [Manuscript piano-vocal score]

Revised by His Nephew Louis S. Reddy. Libretto by Peter F. Stout

Ca. 1891.

Tall folio (ca. 400 x 270 mm). Half dark brown morocco with dark brown textured cloth boards, titling gilt to upper. [ii] (index), [i] (Dramatis Personae), [iii] (blank) pp., 1f. (fine pen-and-ink decorative titled signed by E.A. Havers and dated 1891), 283 pp. Notated in ink on 12-stave paper, in all likelihood in the hand of Louis S. Reddy. Text in English.

With an additional manuscript title and index dated 1856, possibly in the composer's autograph, to both sides of a leaf laid in.

Binding somewhat worn, rubbed, and bumped; head and tail of spine frayed. Light uniform browning. In very good condition overall.

We have found no records in OCLC for the present work, although several pieces of piano music by the same composer published from 1851 to 1868 are recorded.

La Grasse, an American organist and composer, lived in Philadelphia and maintained a music studio at 30 Prime Street there. Anne of Austria enjoyed a single performance at the Music Fund Hall in the city in May of 1856, with a cast of amateur singers. Schiavo: Italian-American History, p. 347. Mattfeld: A Handbook of American Operatic Premieres 1731-1962, p. 4.

The libretto of the opera was published by Barnard & Jones (printers) in Philadelphia in 1856 and is held at the Library Company in Philadelphia (record number 000204652).

Item #36684

Price: $500.00  other currencies