Arditi, Luigi. (1822-1903)
Autograph Musical Quotation, "Il Bacio."
Fine AMQS on small gilt-edged card embossed with a pewter-tone head of an irish setter. Dated Boston, 1882. Four bars of music with words from his most famous composition, his waltz-song "Il Bacio," with tempo noted as "Valse Cantabile." Inscribed to Madame Errani (probably the wife of Italian Operatic Tenor and Singing Teacher, Achille Errani), with greeting "A Happy New Year."A superb item from the important Italian conductor and composer. One of the leading opera conductors of the second half of the 19th century, he was a fixture at Her Majesty's Theatre, Covent Garden, and the St. Petersburg Italian Opera, and toured frequently in Europe and America with Italian opera companies. In London, he introduced much of the major 19th century opera repertoire, including Verdi's Ballo and Forza, Gounod's Faust, Boito's Mefistofele, Mascagni's Cavalleria, Wagner's Der fliegende Hollander etc. As a composer, his own works included the operas "Il Corsaro," and "La Spia," which was based on Fennimore Coopers' "The Spy." He also wrote many orchestral pieces and songs, the most famous of which is the vocal waltz, Il Bacio. (1842)
AMQS Song