Rare Autograph Letter about "Pepita Jiménez"

A very rare autograph letter from the Spanish composer and pianist best-known for his piano works based on folk music idioms. June 11, 1897. Writing to the English critic Herman Klein, Albeniz reports that the preparations for his new production of his opera Pepita Jiménez are going well: "I am sure that we will have a brilliant premiere: it is fixed for Saturday the 19th, and at the moment everything is ready." 2 pp. of a bifolium. Overall toning, with one slight edge tear and a corner crease; otherwise in fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.2 x 17.5 cm).

Translated from the French, in full: "Hotel de Saxe, Prague, June 11, 1897. My dear Klein, here we are: it is a dream! Nothing can be compared to the love with which the Directeur Angelo Neumann, the Kappellmeister Schalk, and the artists, Elsner, Davison, Humold, Sidzlity, and Fräulein Wiet and Kaminsky, have studied my poor Pepita, and I am sure that we will have a brilliant premiere: it is fixed for Saturday the 19th, and at the moment everything is ready. I will write to you about the results, and send you the reviews, good and bad; you know what to do with both; but no matter the reviews, you have your own opinion of the work, and I am sure that the opinions of others won't have the slightest influence on you; while waiting, I can assure you that everything will be "all right." My best wishes to Madame, and you know that I am your true and affectionate friend, I. Albeniz."

Albeniz' opera Pepita Jiménez was written in Paris during 1895 and performed as a one-act opera using an Italian translation of the original English libretto by Angelo Bignotti. The work was not well received in its first form and Albéniz never published this version, deciding instead to immediately revise the score. During 1896 an expanded, two-act version was finished and in early summer 1897 Albeniz traveled to Prague to attend rehearsals for its premiere at the Deutsches Landestheater under Franz Schalk. Although the premiere was planned for June 19, it was pushed to June 22 as Albeniz, under pressure to make large cuts to the score, struggled to rewrite parts of the opera. The second version was not revived in following seasons, but Albeniz reworked the opera into yet another version in 1905.

Herman Klein had favorably reviewed the Barcelona production of the first version of Pepita Jiménez in The Times on January 5, 1896. (15507)

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Autograph Letter

Classical Music

Opera

• Sold