Elwart, Antoine. (1808-1877)
Autograph Letter to Alexis Dupont
Rare autograph letter from the French theorist, critic and composer to the important tenor, Alexis Dupont (1796-1874). One page with integral address, dated 1838: In part: "... je compte toujours que ma pauvrette de musique sera etendu..."A student of Fétis and Lesueur at the Paris Conservatory, he later was assistant professor to Reicha and taught there for many years after he he won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1834. Among his students were Grisar, Gouvy, and Weckerlin. His compositions include oratorios, overtures, symphonies, chamber and church music, but his reputation rests principally on his writings, theoretical and literary. Among his many published works were "Theorie Musicale," "Traite du contrepoint et de la fugue," "Le Chanteur Accompagnateur," and "Histoire de la Societe des Concerts."
The addressee of the letter, tenor Alexis Dupont, was one of the great stars of the Opéra-Comique from 1821-1840. Auber wrote the role of Alphonse in "La Muette de Portici" for him, and he created roles in Rossini's "Guillaume Tell" and Halévy's "La Juive." (1431)
Autograph Letter Opera