Details
ROSSINI, Gioachino (1792-1868). A collection of 17 autograph letters signed to his friend and business agent Giuseppe Mattei in Bologna, Paris (one only headed Da Casa), 3 January 1851 - 21 April 1868, mostly concerning Rossini's business affairs, his farm in Italy and his health but also throwing light in passing on his state of mind, black ink, 4o, approximately 40 pages, with 16 autograph envelopes, one with autograph address leaf.
A collection of warmhearted and endearing letters, full of appreciation for what Mattei has done for Rossini and his affairs.
The first letter of this collection predates the others by 12 years and differs significantly in mood and expression. It is a brief letter complaining that Martelli, one of Rossini's tenants, has not paid the rent although previously Mattei represented him as an honest man. The most interesting comment in the letter is the postscript in which Rossini expresses his surprise that in England his autographs sell for ten pounds sterling.
The main body of the correspondence begins with a letter of 30 July 1863, in which Rossini tells Mattei that he should not be insulted if he calls him by the familiar tù but he needs his help to take care of his affairs in Italy as there is somebody there whom he does not trust. In October, Rossini writes that Mattei will now be rittengo a me legato and makes a pun on the words Fatto Rè and fattore ('made king' and 'farmer'). Rossini's letters are fullsome in their appreciation of Mattei's activities and his reports: a letter of 4 June 1864 tells Mattei that the letter Rossini has just recieved from him gave the composer more joy than a picture painted by Rafael, Leonardo or Ttitan, if they were still alive. Rossini's letters go into considerable detail about the management of his property, the crops to plant, the hopes that the harvests will be sold well, and his wish that Mattei's son should not go shooting on his land.
As time progresses Rossini reports increasingly on his health, asking on 22 November 1864 for due litri del farmaco anticancero, and referring to himself as il povero vecchio maestro di Capello and il vecchietto or il vegliordo. The final letter in this group is moving in its tribute to Mattei, written only six months (21 April 1868) before Rossini's death, Addio mio buon Giuseppe ricordati che non fai che a nessuno è secondo in amarti.
The letters are characteristic of the older Rossini's wit, warmth and piety.
Apparently unpublished.
(17)
A collection of warmhearted and endearing letters, full of appreciation for what Mattei has done for Rossini and his affairs.
The first letter of this collection predates the others by 12 years and differs significantly in mood and expression. It is a brief letter complaining that Martelli, one of Rossini's tenants, has not paid the rent although previously Mattei represented him as an honest man. The most interesting comment in the letter is the postscript in which Rossini expresses his surprise that in England his autographs sell for ten pounds sterling.
The main body of the correspondence begins with a letter of 30 July 1863, in which Rossini tells Mattei that he should not be insulted if he calls him by the familiar tù but he needs his help to take care of his affairs in Italy as there is somebody there whom he does not trust. In October, Rossini writes that Mattei will now be rittengo a me legato and makes a pun on the words Fatto Rè and fattore ('made king' and 'farmer'). Rossini's letters are fullsome in their appreciation of Mattei's activities and his reports: a letter of 4 June 1864 tells Mattei that the letter Rossini has just recieved from him gave the composer more joy than a picture painted by Rafael, Leonardo or Ttitan, if they were still alive. Rossini's letters go into considerable detail about the management of his property, the crops to plant, the hopes that the harvests will be sold well, and his wish that Mattei's son should not go shooting on his land.
As time progresses Rossini reports increasingly on his health, asking on 22 November 1864 for due litri del farmaco anticancero, and referring to himself as il povero vecchio maestro di Capello and il vecchietto or il vegliordo. The final letter in this group is moving in its tribute to Mattei, written only six months (21 April 1868) before Rossini's death, Addio mio buon Giuseppe ricordati che non fai che a nessuno è secondo in amarti.
The letters are characteristic of the older Rossini's wit, warmth and piety.
Apparently unpublished.
(17)