Autograph Letter regarding his Birthday, further signed and inscribed BY PIAVE

Autograph Letter Signed ("G. Verdi") in Italian, 1 p, 8vo, [N.P.] October 10, 1857, to hist librettist Francesco Maria Piave, who further inscribes the letter to his friend V. Orlandi and signs it himself as well.  Translated from the Italian: "It passed yesterday... and so I have another year behind me.  We drank with my inlaw and a few others a glass of champagne and said more than once, 'Where is that thief Piave, and what is he up to these days?'.  Have fun with Aroldo. Send a warm hello to Ferrarini and tell him I'm guilty as charged for not being better in touch --- Here is the certificate for (... )Luigi Verdi II is here and he sends regards. "  Then, in the hand of Piave: "To friend Vito Orlandi / Francesco M. Piave / Venice 20 October 1857 at 1 in the morning." 12.4 x 20.5 cm.  Mounted with archival photo corners and framed, unexamined out of frame but in apparently very good condition, with some staining around the edges, usual folds, and a few small edge tears and surface losses not affecting the writing.

An extraordinary letter, signed not only by the celebrated composer himself but by the Italian librettist who was Verdi's life-long friend and collaborator. Piave followed Salvadore Cammarano as Verdi's main mid-career librettist, writing the librettos for Verdi's operas "Ernani" (1844), "I due Foscari" (1844), "Attila" (1846), "Macbeth" (1847), "Il Corsaro" (1848), "Stiffelio" (1850), "Rigoletto" (1851), "La traviata" (1853), "Simon Boccanegra" (1857), and "La forza del destino" (1862). Piave would have also prepared the libretto for "Aida," the commission for which Verdi accepted in 1870, had he not suffered a disabling stroke. (18161)

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Autograph Letter

Opera

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