Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) - photo 1

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Lot 260
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1109060
Lot 260 | Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Estimate value
£ 3 500 – 4 500
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Autograph letter signed ('G. Verdi') to [Carlo] Baucardé, 4, rue Richer, Paris, 16 December 1853
In Italian. One page, 207 x 135mm, bifolium, Verdi’s embossed monogram at upper left. Provenance: Sotheby's, 11 June 2019, lot 90.

On his plans for a second staging of La traviata after 'the fiasco at La Fenice'. Baucardé had proposed to stage Traviata at the Teatro Apollo in Rome, but Verdi rebuffs the suggestion: 'By now you will have heard that I have asked Ricordi not to give the score of Traviata to Rome. The reason is not that I lack faith in this opera of mine, of which, in spite of the fiasco at La Fenice, I think neither better nor worse than any other of mine: but because I wished to stage it myself one more time and thus convince myself as to the real merit of the said opera – I will not conceal from you by the way that I consider necessary for Traviata a prima donna not only of great talent but of a specific talent for this opera: a singer of feeling, and an actress'. The singer recommended by Baucardé may well have the necessary talent, but she is unknown to Verdi. On Baucardé's own involvement, 'I ask for nothing better, and would be delighted to produce Traviata with you'.

Carlo Baucardé (1825-1883) had created the role of Manfredo in Il trovatore at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on 19 January 1853, to great success. The premiere of La traviata at Venice's La Fenice on 6 March 1853 had by contrast been one of the great disasters in operatic history, with the blame being pinned on the choice of Fanny Salvini-Donatelli in the lead role of Violetta. The second production, which secured for the opera the universal acclaim and affection it has enjoyed ever since, was to take place on 6 May 1854 at the Teatro San Benedetto, also in Venice: contrary to Verdi's intentions in the present letter, it was not personally overseen by himself, but by the librettist, Francesco Maria Piave.
Artist:Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Place of origin:Italy
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 20:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
13.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
£1 800
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
£2 000
Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876) – [Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)]
Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876) – [Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)]
£4 000
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
£2 000
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
£25 000
VERDI, Giuseppe (1813-1901)
VERDI, Giuseppe (1813-1901)
£1 500
Album of autograph music
Album of autograph music
£100
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
£30 000

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.