Small archive consisting of an autograph musical quotation from the composer's grand opera, L'Africaine; an autograph letter; and a total of 8 engraved and lithographic portraits
Bound in half dark brown leather with marbled boards, "Meyerbeer" gilt to spine, marbled endpapers.
Autograph musical quotation
13 measures of the aria for baritone 'Adamastor, roi des vagues profondes' from Act III of the composer's opera, L'Africaine. On ivory paper within decoratively-ruled borders laid down to olive green paper with printed identification below autograph. With small (85 x 72 mm.) half-length engraved portrait laid down above quotation.
As regards the autograph musical quotation, L'Africaine was a grand opera in five acts to a libretto by Eugène Scribe, first performed at the Paris Opéra on 28 April 1865. "Of the two operas [L'Africaine and Le prophète], it is L’Africaine that points the way forward more clearly; the drame lyrique of the second half of the century can be sensed in the dramatic writing of the closing scene. ... The spectacular Paris première ... was created by Marie Sasse (Sélika), Marie Battu (Inès), Emilio Naudin (Vasco), and Jean-Baptiste Faure (Nélusko), in a production directed by Alexis Colleville and conducted by Georges-François Hainl. ... Being so clearly conceived as a work for soloists, it was the most frequently performed of Meyerbeer’s operas in the 20th century, and has been produced wherever adequate interpreters could be found." Matthias Brzoska in Grove Music Online
Autograph letter
1 page. Octavo. Dated "Jeudi 28 Juin [no year], Hôtel de Paris: Rue Richelieu III," and signed "Meyerbeer." One word crossed out. Slightly worn, browned, and creased. Laid down to mounting sheet. Meyerbeer hopes that his correspondent will be able to stay in Paris for 24 hours longer to so will be able to dine with him on Saturday. "By accepting, you will cause great joy, to me as well as to my guests, all people you know and all your passionate admirers."
Portraits
- Circular bust-length portrait laid down to mount. Image size 110 x 92 mm. Unattributed.
- Bernardoni, Giovanni (1790-1871). Bust-length stipple engraving, with "Gio. Bernardoni inc. 1829" below image and "Giacomo Mayerbeer[!] / Al Nobil Uomo il Signor Conte Gio. Zuccardi Crisanti / Podesta di Novellara / Amatore, e Protettore delle Belle Arti / L'Editore Andrea Bernieri D.D.D." printed to lower margin. Dimensions to plate mark ca. 324 x 243 mm. Very slightly soiled and foxed.
- [?]Vigneron, Pierre Roch (1789-1872). Half-length lithographic portrait with "Vigneron" to left of image and "Giacomo Meyerbeer," "a Paris, chez Maurice Schlesinger, r. Richelieu, 97" and "Lith. de Thierry Frères" printed to lower margin. Image size ca. 230 x 160 mm., sheet size 273 x 211 mm. Slightly worn, foxed, and trimmed.
- Half-length lithographic portrait by Benard et frey with "Revue Etrangère" at head and "Meyerbeer" at foot. Image size ca. 115 x 105 mm., sheet size 218 x 160 mm. Slightly soiled and foxed.
- Half-length lithographic portrait with "M. Meyerbeer" printed at lower margin. Image size ca. 130 x 88 mm., sheet size 188 x 127 mm.
- Torlet, Adolphe. Bust-length engraved portrait by "Ad[olphe]. Torlet." Image size ca. 80 x 70 mm., sheet size 312 x 220 mm.
- Delpech, François-Séraphin (1778-1825). Half-length lithographic portrait by Delpech, Paris with "Meyerbeer" printed below image along with facsimile autograph signature. Image size ca. 115 x 105 mm., sheet size 270 x 170 mm. Tipped-in.
All prints (with the exception of the Delpech) laid down at corners to separate mounting sheets.
Provenance
With small mid-tan ex libris leather label gilt of bibliophile Lucien Graux to front pastedown: "Bibliothèque du Docteur Lucien Graux."
Meyerbeer was "the most frequently performed opera composer during the 19th century, linking Mozart and Wagner." Matthias Brzoska in Grove Music Online
As regards the autograph musical quotation, L'Africaine was a grand opera in five acts to a libretto by Eugène Scribe, first performed at the Paris Opéra on 28 April 1865. "Of the two operas [L'Africaine and Le prophète], it is L’Africaine that points the way forward more clearly; the drame lyrique of the second half of the century can be sensed in the dramatic writing of the closing scene. ... The spectacular Paris première ... was created by Marie Sasse (Sélika), Marie Battu (Inès), Emilio Naudin (Vasco), and Jean-Baptiste Faure (Nélusko), in a production directed by Alexis Colleville and conducted by Georges-François Hainl. ... Being so clearly conceived as a work for soloists, it was the most frequently performed of Meyerbeer’s operas in the 20th century, and has been produced wherever adequate interpreters could be found." op. cit.
Graux (1878-1944) was a French doctor, entrepreneur, art collector, writer, publisher, resistance fighter, and founder of the Arys perfume house. An ardent bibliophile, he assembled one of the most extensive and finest private collections of books and manuscripts of his time. Arrested by the Gestapo in June of 1944, he was deported to Dachau and murdered on 10 October of that year. His library was auctioned in a series of nine sales from 1953-1957 at the Drouot in Paris.
An interesting archive with distinguished provenance, carefully and tastefully preserved in an attractive format.
Item #39486
Price: $3,200.00 other currencies