Bidspirit auction | MERCADANTE SAVERIO: (1795-1870) & THALBERG

MERCADANTE SAVERIO: (1795-1870) & THALBERG SIGISMOND: (1812-1871) & & PISANI BARTOLOMEO: (1811-1876) Mercadante, Thalberg and Pisani – a musical gathering in nineteenth-century Naples - MERCADANTE SAVERIO: (1795-1870) Italian composer & THALBERG SIGISMOND: (1812-1871) Swiss-born pianist and composer, one of the foremost piano virtuosos of the 19th century & PISANI BARTOLOMEO: (1811-1876) Italian composer and pupil of Mercadante. An attractive collection of autograph musical quotations signed by Mercadante, Thalberg, Pisani and one unidentified composer, four pages, folio, Naples and elsewhere, 1849-55, on the four sides of a decorative bifolium of printed manuscript paper featuring elaborate red borders incorporating allegorical female figures, musicians, musical instruments and foliate ornaments. The principal contribution is a substantial A.M.Q.S., Saverio Mercadante , two pages, Naples, 27th May 1849, comprising the composer's Scherzo for piano in A major, thirty-two bars of music boldly penned over nine two-stave systems, signed by Mercadante at the conclusion and dated Napoli, 27 Maggio 1849 in his hand. The bifolium further features an Andantino for piano by Sigismond Thalberg, extending to approximately twelve bars over three systems, signed S. Thalberg at the conclusion and dated at Naples, 3rd January 1855 in his hand, and an Andantino for piano by Bartolomeo Pisani, comprising approximately twelve bars over three systems and signed by the composer at the conclusion. A fourth autograph musical quotation, comprising several bars of music, is signed by an unidentified composer. An unusually handsome and substantial musical album leaf, centred upon Mercadante's extensive two-page Scherzo and bringing together composers and performers closely associated with the vibrant musical life of nineteenth-century Naples. Some very light, minor age wear, VG The present bifolium provides an appealing reflection of the cosmopolitan musical life of nineteenth-century Naples. Mercadante had been director of the Naples Conservatory since 1840 and was one of the leading Italian operatic composers of the generation between Rossini and Verdi. Bartolomeo Pisani studied under Mercadante in Naples and subsequently maintained close ties with his former teacher, while Sigismond Thalberg, one of the greatest piano virtuosos of his age and at one time regarded as Franz Liszt's principal rival, also enjoyed particularly strong connections with the city. Thalberg had married Francesca Lablache, daughter of the celebrated Neapolitan-based bass Luigi Lablache, in 1843, and later settled permanently in the vicinity of Naples.