Bidspirit auction | [MUSIC] - VERDI Giuseppe (1813

[MUSIC] - VERDI Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) - A Cheerful Verdi: An Invitation To Rest And Friendship At Sant’agata - Autograph letter signed, dated “Genova 24 aprile 1880” by the celebrated Italian composer. 3 pp. In-8. Addressed to the librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni (1824 - 1893). Verdi, unusually good-humored, scolds his friend Ghislanzoni for indulging too much in the sadness of life: “…Ella ha delle melanconie in testa che non sono permesse ad un uomo del suo talento e del suo spirito! (…) Cosa sono quelle parole: non mi permetta sperare che io abbia mai a rivederla!!!…”. And he adds, trying to help his friend, but in a firm tone: “…Venga a Sant. Agata senza carte e senza libri. Là vi si annoja talvolta, ma di salute si sta sempre bene e si è tranquilli…Venga senza tanti complimenti e farà un piacere grandissimo anche a mia moglie…”. Verdi had recently returned from Milan, where he had attended a ceremony in his honor and where at La Scala, his “Pater” and “Ave Maria” had been performed for the first time (18.4.1880). The tone of the letter reveals the depth of Verdi’s relationship with Ghislanzoni, extending beyond professional collaboration into genuine friendship. Written shortly after public celebrations of his music, the document reflects a period of recognition and stability in Verdi’s life. His invitation to Sant’Agata evokes the composer’s retreat as a place of health and reflection, contrasting with the pressures of urban and theatrical life. •⁠> This lot is located in and ships from the UK. A UK export license is required prior to shipment. Import duties and taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility.