Lot 6
Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869) French Romantic composer. Important autograph letter signed ("H. Berlioz"), in French, 3 pages, 8vo, Paris, Setember 20 (1838). Heavy deletions and revisions by Berlioz, integral autograph address panel, postmarked, remains of seal, affecting one word, trace of mount, affecting one word; some creasing, slight spotting to first leaf.
To Humbert Ferrand about the first performances of his opera "Benvenuto Cellini" and about related artistic matters, admitting that they were mistaken in believing that an opera dealing with art and the passion of an artist might please a Parisian audience, commenting on the more successful second and third performances ("…La seconde et la troisième representation ont marché à souhait…."), listing the newspapers favorably disposed towards the opera, discusing the replacement of the tenor Duprez by Dupont, giving his own assessment of the artistic worth of his score ("…Ma partition se défend d'elle même…."), comparing the overture with that of Weber's "Freischütz," discussing earler works which he destroyed, and reaffirming his belief in the value of his composition ("…Cette partition est doué [sic] de toutes les qualités qui donnent la vie aux oeuvres d'art….").
The manuscript of this letter, one of the most famous of all of Berlioz letters, is of exceptional interest because of the many divergences from the text published in the French collected edition.
The failure of Berlioz's opera semiseria "Benvenuto Cellini," one of the composer's most important and original works (it received only three full performances in 1838 on September 10, 12, and 14, and a few fragmentary ones the following year) was emblematic of the essentially tragic trajectory of the French composer's career. In no doubt about his own genius, and conveying this with eloquence in the present letter, he nevertheless failed to gain the public recognition he deserved. Henceforth, the Paris Opera was closed to him, a bitter and humiliating blow, which renders the composer's tone of sanguine resignation here all the more remarkable.
References: Citron, Correspondance générale, no. 579.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000.
Sotheby's, London, Dec. 8, 2000, lot 51.
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| Realized $6,600 |
