Gioachino Rossini | Autograph letter signed to Donizetti, 24 November 1841

Gioachino Rossini

Remarkable, long autograph letter to Gaetano Donizetti (“Preghiatissimo amico”), signed (“Gioachino Rossini”)

writing in a direct and sarcastic manner (“…Ho ricevuto la vostra amabile e troppo laconica lettera alla quale m’affretto rispondere…”), he forcefully derides Donizetti’s ideas for the future head of the Liceo musicale (Conservatorio), Bologna, at which both studied, the implication that Donizetti himself was considering applying for the position, informing him that there are no obvious Bolognese rivals for the post, except perhaps Tadolini, thanking him for help with the corrections to his Stabat mater, which is being published by Troupenas, and sending his best regards

3 pages, 4to, integral autograph address panel, straight-line stamp “Bologna”, docketed by the recipient in a secretarial hand, Bologna, 24 November 1841, seal tear, a few minor tears

A rare opportunity to acquire a fine autograph letter from one titan of nineteenth-century Italian opera to another.

Although Rossini’s career as an opera composer had ended, he had not abandoned composition entirely. He was commissioned to compose the Stabat mater in Madrid in 1831. Ill health prevented its completion and the final six movements were added by Giovanni Tadolini. This version was published without the composer’s knowledge and was disowned by him. He rewrote the added sections and published the work himself with Troupenas. The previous month the Stabat mater was performed privately at the home of the pianist and composer Zimmerman in Paris. Six of the movements were heard on 31 October in a performance organized by Troupenas. It received its official public premiere on 7 January 1842 at the Salle Ventadour. Rossini hoped Donizetti might give the Italian premiere.

Also included with this lot are two unsigned carte-de-visite photographs of Rossini.