Labarre, Théodore. (1805-1870)

"Nocturne Espagnol" - Autograph Musical Quotation

AMQS from the important French harpist and composer, foster-brother of Napoleon III, author of many operettas and works for harp, and professor at the Paris Conservatoire. He has penned a short piece of eight measures on two staves (likely for harp), identified as "Nocturne Espagnol," and boldly signed and inscribed at the foot: "T. Labarre à Madame Mangin." On an album leaf with manuscript lines on recto and verso. Right edge rough; light toning; overall in very fine condition. 10.25 x 7.5 inches (25.9 x 19.3 cm).No place, no date [ca. 1830-40s].

Clara Stéphanie Mangin of Boulogne had become Comtesse d'Espinay Theix Royat and the Château de Theix was near Clermont-Ferrand. She was an amateur musician and an intimate of numerous musicians, including Paganini, Rossini and Onslow, all of whom penned similar short works for her.

"The musical style of his operas derives from the works of Boieldieu and Adam, and anticipates those of Offenbach; although they never achieved the popularity of Meyerbeer or Halévy, several of his works, such as Jovita, remained in the repertory throughout the 1850s. He also wrote music for the harp as well as romances, some of which became extremely popular (La pauvre négresse was one of Cornélie Falcon’s great drawing-room successes). In 1837 Labarre married the singer Mlle Lambert, and from then on spent about an equal amount of time in France and England. He was a conductor at the Opéra-Comique from 1847 to 1849, and later was appointed director of the imperial chapel. He succeeded Antoine Prumier as professor of harp at the Paris Conservatoire (1867–70), where Léon Gatayes and Félix Godefroid were among his pupils. During the last years of his life he was music critic for Paris illustré. He was admitted to the Légion d'Honneur in 1862." (New Grove) (13282)

AMQS Classical Music