Album containing autograph music by Verdi, Bellini, Liszt, Rossini, Donizetti and others, [1823]-1890

Album of autograph music
Album containing autograph music by Verdi, Bellini, Liszt, Rossini, Donizetti and others, [1823]-1890
Approximately 20 entries comprising music and poetry, the album pages 280 x 400mm. Contemporary green morocco gilt (sprung), slip case. Provenance: Marietta Massani (a number of entries inscribed to her, decorated title for 'I.M. Massani', initials on upper cover with coronet); Sotheby's, 29 & 30 June 1982, lot 207.

A dazzling album of autograph music by some of the great operatic composers of the 19th century.

The entries include:
1. Johann Baptist Cramer (1771-1858). Autograph manuscript signed (at head, 'J.B. Cramer'), 'Introduzione' and 'Aria alla Tedesca'. 134 bars on up to four systems of two staves per page, 4½ pages, inscribed at foot ‘Présenter [sic] par l’Auteur avec ses respects à Mad^lle Massani’, Rome, 14 January 1839
2. Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835). Autograph manuscript signed (at head 'Bellini'), the 'flauto primo' part of a 'Tantum Ergo' in G major, n.d. [?1823]. 41 bars on one page, 230 x 270mm, annotated with statement of authenticity signed by Francesco Florimo at Naples on 18 February 1878, laid down.
3. Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848). Autograph manuscript signed (at foot, 'Donizetti'), an aria, 'O doloroso addio' for voice and piano, Rome, 16 February 1841. 34 bars on four systems of three staves, one page, inscribed at foot 'À Mlle Massani'.
4. Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868). Autograph manuscript signed ('G. Rossini'), the arietta 'L'esule', for voice and piano, Bologna, 8 March 1843. 23 bars, on four systems of three staves, 2 pages, inscribed to 'Madre Lusseni(?) nata Massani'.
5. Saverio Mercadante (1795-1870). Autograph musical quotation signed ('Saverio Mercadante'), twelve bars of the aria 'L'aura ch'io spiro' from his opera Il Proscritto', Rome, 25 June 1859. On three systems of three staves, one page.
6. Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). Autograph musical quotation signed ('G. Verdi'), nine bars of the quintet 'E scherzo', from Un ballo in maschera, Rome, 26 February 1859. Three systems of two staves, one page.
7. Franz Liszt (1811-1886). Autograph musical quotation signed ('F. Liszt'), the first sixteen bars of the Dante Symphony, piano arrangement, n.d. [c.1857]. Three systems of two staves, one page, 170 x 240mm, laid down.

Verdi's handsome quotation from Un ballo in maschera is dated 9 days after the premiere of the opera in Rome. Donizetti was also in Rome for an opera premiere, of Adelia on 11 February 1841.