Milano, 2 gennaio 1828
Mio caro Florimo
Di quanto non ti sono obbligato, come al bravo Sig:r Caval:re Coppola che con tanto calore ha difeso ed ha ottenuto i nostri desiderii presso il sua \ loro / patria e non poco; e di ciò ne è pruova il felice governo che ebbe la Sicilia negli anni che il prin‹ci›pe Campofranco ne fù Vice-Rè; infine li preghi d’annoverarmi nel numero dei loro più grati amici, e abbino di certo, che cotesto loro tratto, mi sarà scolpito per sempre nel mio cuore.
Credea che jeri avessi ricevuto tua lettera con i giornali, come tu nell’ultima mi prometti, e sono restato deluso, e per lettere, e per giornali; perciò credo che sii successo qualche altro impedimento, che cotesto Sig:r Ruffa, nemico dei suoi compaesani ha potuto far nascere: basta: aspetto Vennerdì per vedere che mi dici nella tua che son certo di ricevere: Aspetto pure la decisione di
Eccomi a darti notizie de’ teatri: L’
A Venezia quel tale maestro tale \tali/ manovre, non
La
Milano 2. del 1828
Al Sig:r D:n Francesco Florimo
nel Real Collegio di Musica
in
Napoli
t. p. Milano […] - […]
12
2.
Milan, 2 January 1828
Vincenzo Bellini to Francesco Florimo. Letter.
Aut. I-Nc, Rari 1.9.10 (30). One bifolio, three sides plus address on the verso.
Ed. Florimo 1882, pp. 288-291(partial transcription); Cambi 1943, pp. 30-34; Neri 2005, pp. 31-33.
My dear Florimo
I am immensely grateful to you, as I am to good Sig. Cavaliere Coppola, who so passionately supported and secured what we sought from Principe Campofranco; do therefore convey my profound thanks to the Cavaliere, and ask him to thank his friend Lucchesi and his brother for me as well. Though I've not had the pleasure of their personal acquaintance, I trust my offers of gratitude will nonetheless be a welcome gesture for all they have done, not only for my benefit but also in honor of my Sicilian origins. Indeed, notwithstanding the fact I've been away for some years, the regions of my native land are so dear to me that both subjects I 've set to music so far take place on Sicilian soil: the first, based on Carlo Duca d'Agrigento and performed at San Carlo; the second, Il pirata, at La Scala. I do hope the Cavaliere tells them all this because they too nurture no small love of country, demonstrated by halcyon years of Sicilian government when Principe Campofranco was Viceroy. Finally, please beg them to remember me among their most grateful friends, certain that their kind consideration will be forever etched in my heart.
Yesterday I expected to find your latest letter along with the newspapers you promised to send but I was disappointed to receive neither, which makes me suspect there has been some other impediment mounted by this Sig. Ruffa, who is the enemy of his compatriots. Enough, I'll wait to see what you have to tell me in the letter I'm certain to receive Friday. I'm also waiting for the decision you and Zingarelli made about the music you've seen. Feel free to give him your complete copy, because when I send you the remaining pieces I'll include another one as replacement. I learned of the money you paid to Fabricatore for customs, which I believe was too much, but when it comes to dealing with these merchants we're always faced with the same problem. This means I'll send whatever I need to send you directly and no longer trust an intermediary, because I thought Ricordi didn't charge for the shipping costs — but they're all alike, all thieves and Jews. -
Regarding the latest theatrical news, Elisabetta continues to fare as well as it did the first night. Monday was the dress rehearsal for Donizetti's opera Il borgomastro, which opens this evening. I didn't attend any of the rehearsals, but someone at the dress rehearsal told me that there's nothing worthwhile in the first act, that the second act has a duetto the audience may like, and that overall it will be a fiasco; but this evening we'll see, and then I'll tell you all about it. -
That maestro Persiani, whom I do not know, created a total disaster in Venice despite all the help he had from Romani's libretto; and the ballet choreographed by M. Henry, Amleto, encountered the same fate, notwithstanding the fact that the protagonist was Henry himself, who certainly knows how to portray a madman. In Florence a new opera written by a certain maestro Mazza was also a fiasco. In Turin Semiramide was a half fiasco with only Mariani surviving unscathed. That's all the news I have about the theatres. Here no one knows whether Lalande will stay for the entire season or go to Vienna, only that it's up to Vienna to resolve things. Tell me what you've heard about this from Barbaja relative to me and other plans. Sig. Pacini, not sufficiently happy with maneuvering behind the scenes there [in Naples], is up to his same tricks here as well: he's already contrived to have a letter sent to Unger, possibly written by Winter, describing how the fourth performance of Margherita was such a clamorous success, and Unger sent this letter on to the journalist of I teatri to have it published. I'm told that this journalist, who originally didn't think much of Pacini (as can be seen from what he'd written about Pompei), has only praise for him now, and that this sudden change of heart was inspired by a certain sum Pacini sent him, knowing that this journalist finds money to be a very persuasive argument for changing his opinion. You can therefore deduce what a trap this is, and that perhaps they've also insinuated things about me to this journalist. Who knows what he'll be inclined to say about my music as long as I continue to write; but since genuine merit has no need for propaganda and chicanery, I'm calm and unconcerned as I scornfully observe these kinds of schemes beneath the dignity of honorable men. -
Signora Pollini received a warm letter from Sig. Zingarelli, thanking her from the heart for their constant care and concern for me which only grows greater with each passing day. They are both unimaginably gracious and always ready with good advice for anything no matter how small it may be. I see them every day and as a rule I have dinner with them a couple of times a week. - My only other news is that yesterday I saw the Consul of Naples, who arrived here a few days ago and told me about your visit and other news from Naples. Let me know if the Duca di Noja has arrived, though I suspect not, and thank the Head Consul for his kindness toward me. I've not yet written to Ventura because in truth I'm waiting to send him the handkerchiefs as my reason to contact him, although perhaps I'll have you include a note from me in your next letter to him. Meanwhile give my greetings to Sig. Don Antonio, his Signora, and all of their family and friends. My deepest respects to the Sig. Director, Headmaster, and whomever you think appropriate. Fondest regards to all of our friends and companions, and remember finally how I cherish your friendship and long to embrace you in person, hoping you remember me fondly as well. You can easily imagine how I'm beginning to grow a bit bored, waiting for work and far from those most dear to me, even though my good friends the Pollinis provide some distraction from this tedium and I love my profession enough to tolerate the suffering. Farewell my dear Florimo, never forget your devoted friend Bellini. Farewell -
Milan 2 [January] 1828
To Sig. Don Francesco Florimo
in the Real Collegio di Musica
in
Naples
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