PUCCINI Giacomo (1858 - 1924) - Lot 161

Lot 161
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Result : 14 300EUR
PUCCINI Giacomo (1858 - 1924) - Lot 161
PUCCINI Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 25 L.A.S. "GPuccini" (2 "GP" and 2 unsigned), 1894-1911, to his friend Carlo CLAUSETTI; 52 pages in various sizes, all (except one) with address or envelope (small flaws to one letter); in green morocco slipcase; in Italian. Very interesting friendly correspondence, mainly related to his operas. [Carlo CLAUSETTI (1869-1943), Neapolitan composer, librettist, poet and translator, director of the Naples branch of the music publisher Ricordi, became friends with Puccini on the occasion of the Naples premiere of Manon Lescaut (January 21, 1894); a fraternal friendship united the two men, and developed into a trusting artistic collaboration, with Puccini considering Clausetti as another himself]. March 28, 1894, warm protest of friendship to the kind poet, to the inspired musician, to the polychrome artist ("amabile poeto musico inspirato artista policolore - T'adoro"...). He recalls the kiss that sealed their friendship... Pisa October 27: it will be in Torre del Lago until November 15. Milan January 10, 1895. He is not very enthusiastic about Le Villi in Molfetta, and wants to know if the orchestra and the conductor are worth something, and if the staging will be taken care of, because it is useless to stage Le Villi without guarantee of success. And for the San Carlo, it is NO, opinion shared by Giulio Ricordi: one cannot force the opinion; the opera fell in Naples, and one would believe that one wants to benefit from the success of Manon to rehabilitate Le Villi: "Non conviene sforzare the opinione publica. A Napoli cadde l'opera et parrebbe che si volesse approfittare del successo di Manon per far riabilitare le Villi"... Milan, February 11. He greets the theatrical organizer, author of Manon Lescaut in Southern Italy ("celebre organisatore teatrale immenso animatore di publici, autore dell'opera Manon Lescaut nel meridionale d'Italia!"). He cannot say how much he owes him. He is struck by the idea of the new staging of the 3rd act of La Bohème, but asks for details to better understand how to arrange the chorus ("il coro a semicerchio o su due ale? e i soldati come? e dove?")... Milan, February 18, long letter on the opera Guglielmo Ratcliff by MASCAGNI, which was a success; Mascagni made great progress in technique and instrumentation, and in the sequence of pieces; but Puccini criticizes the libretto, and does not believe that the opera will interest many; moreover it is necessary a tenor with lungs of steel ("ci bisogno un Tenore con pumoni di ghisa"); and Mascagni has taken everything in Le Villi ("Le Villi ci sono a piene mani")... He makes good progress in La Bohème, but he will have to work like a dog to finish it next year ("Bohème proceda bene ma sono molto indiétro e devo lavorare come un cane se voglio finirla per l'anno venturo"). Mascagni will conduct Manon in Livorno... Pescia June 7. He is in the country, at Villa Castellaccio in Pescia, and he works. Pescia 29th September. He praised the Hymn of Clausetti to Ricordi, who will make all possible editions, even Turkish (Ottoman), but he has too much work to orchestrate it ("Ho tanto da fare che non posso proporre strumentari, come vorrei, l'inno")... Palermo April 9, 1896. He explains his hasty departure for Palermo in order to prepare the Sicilian premiere of La Bohème (of which he has reworked the second act after the performances in Rome and Naples) [9 May]. They are in full rehearsal, and he expects an excellent performance ("deduco, predico, confido, spero un'ottima, intonata esecuzione"), with very good singers, including Stehle and Giacchetti for Musette, and the Schaunard he wanted. On Saturday, Manon will be performed again with Mugnone. La Bohème will probably come the following Saturday. Puccini asks for details about the performances at the San Carlo... 26 May 1897. He regrets to leave his friend, but the thirst for greenery ("la sete di verde") is too strong... Levico July 2. He returns from his conquest of Berlin; he will be on the 15th in Torre del Lago, and will recover Tosca too long abandoned ("riprendero Tosca de tanto tempo abbandonata")... Naples 12 October 1898. He jokingly reproaches his lascivious friend for not writing to him... He works slowly at Tosca, like a beaver at his house ("Io lavoro a Tosca lentamente come il castoro alla sua casa"). He has bought a property [in Chiatri] and built a villa; he has white hair and approaches the eternal rest calmly, hoping that the end will come as late as possible ("Ho comprato un podere e fabbrico una villa. Ho dei capelli bianchi e m'avvicino al riposo eterno con calma e sperando che la fine sia distanto più possibile"... Torre del Lago November 5, 1899. He waits for projects. For his house, he asks Clausetti to find him a motto that he would like to have painted to keep away the pests ("indicante: lasciatemi tranquillo - non voglio importuni seccatori")... Torre del Lago November 10. Long letter reacting
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