[Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. (1756–1791)] Storace, Nancy [Anna Selina]. (1765–1817)
Autograph Letter to George Smart
One page, with integral address leaf, opposite verso. 22 x 18 cm. Sav. Square, March 4, 1816. Addressed to the conductor, George Smart (1776 - 1867), "My good Friend." In English, in full: "I send you thanks for the 2 admissions you favored me with for last Friday - and if you can spare me a couple, occasionally I shall be much obliged - as my Mother and some friends will be happy to go. I feel indebted for the Admission card, altho [sic] I shall not use it - for unfortunately I cannot muster up fortitude sufficient (as yet) to go into Public. I was in hopes you would have called on me yesterday after Church. Come early on Thursday evening, that you may have a good batch of Whist [whisk? whit?]. I suppose know I have this House on Lady day to reside at Heme Hill. Adieu. When shall I have some chat with you? Yrs. Sincerely A.S.S. [Anna Selina Storace]."A rare autograph letter from the great English soprano, creator of Susanna in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," and of other major roles by Salieri, Soler etc. Sold together with an attractive original 1793 stipple engraving of Storace by I. Conde, published by T. Wilkins in the Thespian Magazine, 9 x 14 cm.
There has long been speculation that Storace and Mozart were romantically involved. Mozart's concert aria (K.505) "Ch'io mi scordi di te?", a duet for piano and voice with orchestra accompaniment for him to play aside Nancy as she sang, was written for her farewell concert in Vienna. Among the composer's most beautiful works, it is the only piece entered in his themeatic catalogue with a personal reference attached to it: "Fur Mlle. Storace und Mich" (For Mlle. Storace and me). The great Mozart historian, Alfred Einstein, described the work as "an evocation of love in music" and based largely on this assessment, believed that Nancy Storace was the "only woman for which Constanze had any reason to be jealous."
In 1813, three years prior to the present letter, the addressee, conductor George Smart, had become an original member of the Philharmonic Society and principal conductor of the city concerts and the Lent oratorios, at which in 1814 he produced for the first time in England Beethoven's ‘Mount of Olives’ in his own arrangement. He was later joint organist of the Chapel Royal, St. James's and was musical director of Covent Garden under Charles Kemble. In 1826, he led the first English performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. (5495)
Autograph Letter Opera