Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Autograph letter signed ('G. Verdi') to [Carlo] Baucardé, 4, rue Richer, Paris, 16 December 1853
In Italian. One page, 207 x 135mm, bifolium, Verdi’s embossed monogram at upper left. Provenance: Sotheby's, 11 June 2019, lot 90.

On his plans for a second staging of La traviata after 'the fiasco at La Fenice'. Baucardé had proposed to stage Traviata at the Teatro Apollo in Rome, but Verdi rebuffs the suggestion: 'By now you will have heard that I have asked Ricordi not to give the score of Traviata to Rome. The reason is not that I lack faith in this opera of mine, of which, in spite of the fiasco at La Fenice, I think neither better nor worse than any other of mine: but because I wished to stage it myself one more time and thus convince myself as to the real merit of the said opera – I will not conceal from you by the way that I consider necessary for Traviata a prima donna not only of great talent but of a specific talent for this opera: a singer of feeling, and an actress'. The singer recommended by Baucardé may well have the necessary talent, but she is unknown to Verdi. On Baucardé's own involvement, 'I ask for nothing better, and would be delighted to produce Traviata with you'.

Carlo Baucardé (1825-1883) had created the role of Manfredo in Il trovatore at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on 19 January 1853, to great success. The premiere of La traviata at Venice's La Fenice on 6 March 1853 had by contrast been one of the great disasters in operatic history, with the blame being pinned on the choice of Fanny Salvini-Donatelli in the lead role of Violetta. The second production, which secured for the opera the universal acclaim and affection it has enjoyed ever since, was to take place on 6 May 1854 at the Teatro San Benedetto, also in Venice: contrary to Verdi's intentions in the present letter, it was not personally overseen by himself, but by the librettist, Francesco Maria Piave.