GOUNOD, Charles 1818-1893

Romeo und Julie Grosse Oper in 5 Akten von J. Barbier und M. Carré Deutsch nach Shakespeare von Th. Gassmann ... für Piano à 2 MS ... Arrangée par H. Salomon. [For piano solo without text]

Paris: Choudens [PN A.C. 1412], [1867].

Large octavo. Mid-tan morocco-backed dark brown pebbled paper boards with titling and rules gilt to upper. 1f. (recto title printed in dark blue within architectural border, verso blank), 1f. (recto dedication to "Charles XV Roi de Suède & de Norwège," verso blank), 1f. (recto cast and contents, verso blank), 3-147, [i] (blank) pp. Lithographed.

Berlin agents Schlesinger and Lienau printed to foot of title; handstamp of former Viennese owner to upper outer corner of free front endpaper.

Binding worn and rubbed; corners abraided. Light browning throughout, most noticeable to first and last leaves; many signatures split.

[?]First Edition in this form, evidently published for both French- and German-speaking markets.

First performed in Paris at the Lyrique on 27 April 1867 to a libretto by Barbier and Carré after Shakespeare.

Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette contains four exquisite soprano-tenor duets, a number almost certainly unprecedented in 19th-century opera and a harbinger of the prominence of love duets in such works as Massenet’s Manon and Werther; to Gounod’s great credit each has a distinct musico-dramatic ambience and shape." Steven Huebner in Grove Music Online.

Item #36761

Price: $40.00  other currencies