Scribe, Eugene. (1791-1861). Important Autograph Letter regarding La Muette de Portici.. From the French playwright and librettist, regarding the dress rehearsal and following day's premiere of Auber's La Muette de Portici, with the libretto by Scribe. 3pp ,8vo. Usual creases and one small tear, not affecting the text.
Addresed to Madame Panchouke, 28 February (no year, but 1829) this letter is written the day before the premiere of what is generally regarded as the earliest French grand opera, a milestone in opera history. In Scribe's colorful letter, declining a dinner invitation due to his required presence at the opera, he refers to the novelty of the undertaking in some length. He writes, in part: “J'ai demain au grand opera un immense et eternal ouvrage qu'on doit y donner, la muette de portici, la plus grande bavarde qui existe et c'est pour retrancher le plus possible a ces cinq actes que nous avons ce soire a 6 heurs une derniere repetition...ma presence est malheuresement indispensable.”
Scribe collaborated with nearly every major opera composer of his time in both France and Italy. His libretti were set by Verdi, Bellini, Auber, Halevy, Boieldieu, Donizetti, Rossini and Meyerbeer, for whom he was working on L'Africaine at the time of his death. Though Scribe wrote many important libretti, it may be argued that La Muette was his most important contribution, as many of its elements - the 5-act structure, the obligatory ballet sequence, the use of spectacular stage effects, the focus on romantic passions against a background of historical troubles - became standard features of the form after their introduction there.
Addresed to Madame Panchouke, 28 February (no year, but 1829) this letter is written the day before the premiere of what is generally regarded as the earliest French grand opera, a milestone in opera history. In Scribe's colorful letter, declining a dinner invitation due to his required presence at the opera, he refers to the novelty of the undertaking in some length. He writes, in part: “J'ai demain au grand opera un immense et eternal ouvrage qu'on doit y donner, la muette de portici, la plus grande bavarde qui existe et c'est pour retrancher le plus possible a ces cinq actes que nous avons ce soire a 6 heurs une derniere repetition...ma presence est malheuresement indispensable.”
Scribe collaborated with nearly every major opera composer of his time in both France and Italy. His libretti were set by Verdi, Bellini, Auber, Halevy, Boieldieu, Donizetti, Rossini and Meyerbeer, for whom he was working on L'Africaine at the time of his death. Though Scribe wrote many important libretti, it may be argued that La Muette was his most important contribution, as many of its elements - the 5-act structure, the obligatory ballet sequence, the use of spectacular stage effects, the focus on romantic passions against a background of historical troubles - became standard features of the form after their introduction there.
Scribe, Eugene. (1791-1861). Important Autograph Letter regarding La Muette de Portici.. From the French playwright and librettist, regarding the dress rehearsal and following day's premiere of Auber's La Muette de Portici, with the libretto by Scribe. 3pp ,8vo. Usual creases and one small tear, not affecting the text.
Addresed to Madame Panchouke, 28 February (no year, but 1829) this letter is written the day before the premiere of what is generally regarded as the earliest French grand opera, a milestone in opera history. In Scribe's colorful letter, declining a dinner invitation due to his required presence at the opera, he refers to the novelty of the undertaking in some length. He writes, in part: “J'ai demain au grand opera un immense et eternal ouvrage qu'on doit y donner, la muette de portici, la plus grande bavarde qui existe et c'est pour retrancher le plus possible a ces cinq actes que nous avons ce soire a 6 heurs une derniere repetition...ma presence est malheuresement indispensable.”
Scribe collaborated with nearly every major opera composer of his time in both France and Italy. His libretti were set by Verdi, Bellini, Auber, Halevy, Boieldieu, Donizetti, Rossini and Meyerbeer, for whom he was working on L'Africaine at the time of his death. Though Scribe wrote many important libretti, it may be argued that La Muette was his most important contribution, as many of its elements - the 5-act structure, the obligatory ballet sequence, the use of spectacular stage effects, the focus on romantic passions against a background of historical troubles - became standard features of the form after their introduction there.
Addresed to Madame Panchouke, 28 February (no year, but 1829) this letter is written the day before the premiere of what is generally regarded as the earliest French grand opera, a milestone in opera history. In Scribe's colorful letter, declining a dinner invitation due to his required presence at the opera, he refers to the novelty of the undertaking in some length. He writes, in part: “J'ai demain au grand opera un immense et eternal ouvrage qu'on doit y donner, la muette de portici, la plus grande bavarde qui existe et c'est pour retrancher le plus possible a ces cinq actes que nous avons ce soire a 6 heurs une derniere repetition...ma presence est malheuresement indispensable.”
Scribe collaborated with nearly every major opera composer of his time in both France and Italy. His libretti were set by Verdi, Bellini, Auber, Halevy, Boieldieu, Donizetti, Rossini and Meyerbeer, for whom he was working on L'Africaine at the time of his death. Though Scribe wrote many important libretti, it may be argued that La Muette was his most important contribution, as many of its elements - the 5-act structure, the obligatory ballet sequence, the use of spectacular stage effects, the focus on romantic passions against a background of historical troubles - became standard features of the form after their introduction there.