Venezia, 16 marzo [18]30
A quest’ora saprai il felice incontro che ha avuto la mia opera i
Il bravo Commendatore Cossati che domani partirà per la volta di cotesta, a voce ti dirà il fatto istorico. Subito che questa Gazzetta ne parlerà estesamente te la manderò acciò mi farete \farai/ il solito piacere di farla inserire nel vro \tuo/foglio.
Io, mio buono amico, sono al colmo del contento: questo furore è stato sino a me stesso inaspettato. La compagnia da quel grado che era, e come in quest’opera figura, è come dal mediocre al sublime, tanto che né io né altri desiderano migliori attori-cantanti, agendo e cantando questi come impossibilmente si potrà fare dai più celebri. La
Io ti ringrazio pel la conoscenza che mi avete \hai/ procurato in persona di questo eccellente Cossato: egli mi ha colmato di gentilezze, ed jeri passai delle ore veramente di piacere, essendo stato a pranzo in sua casa. Mio caro Lamperi vre \tue/ disgraziate combinazioni di quest’anno, specialmente che avea promesso al mio cuore
Il tuo Bellini affsmo
À Monsieur Alexandre Lamperi
à Turin
120
15.
Venice, 16 March 1830
Vincenzo Bellini to Alessandro Lamperi. Letter.
Aut. US-CAh, Houghton MS Mus 143. One bifolio, three sides plus address on the verso.
Ed. Luzio, pp. 118-119; Cambi 1943, pp. 241-242; Neri 2005, pp. 164-166.
Venice 16 March 30
My dear Lamperi
You'll have heard by now about the felicitous results of my opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi, which opened on the 11th of this month. To give you an idea of how warmly it was received, I can tell you that the excitement it generated from the first performance to the fourth one on Sunday was at least as great as that for Il pirata and La straniera in Milan.
The excellent Commendatore Cossati, who leaves tomorrow for Turin, will tell you all about the memorable event in person. As soon as the Gazzetta here comes out with an extended review, I'll send it along so that you might do me the usual favor of inserting it in your paper.
I, my good friend, am at the height of contentment: this degree of enthusiasm was something I didn't even expect myself. The cast, mediocre as it had originally seemed, rose to the sublime for this opera, so much so that neither I nor anyone else could have desired a better group of singer-performers whose vocal and interpretative execution far exceeded the accomplishments of others considerably more famous than they. Grisi's lovely and wide-ranging voice, whose cords were so responsive to the touch of my music, is thrilling to hear, and she excels no less as an actress. Carradori as Giulietta is heavenly, both for her ingenuous figure and for her spontaneous manner of singing and acting. The tenor Bonfigli outdid himself and surpassed all public expectations, making himself so odious that no one could bear to look him directly in the face. -
I must thank you for having arranged my personal introduction to this excellent Cossato. He has been exceedingly kind, and yesterday I passed several truly pleasant hours with him over dinner in his home. My dear Lamperi, I must leave you now. It saddened me very much to learn of the unfortunate circumstances you've had to endure this year, and especially that I was unable to embrace you again as I had so earnestly promised myself, but I have every intention to come to Turin if I can for around ten days in May. Farewell - My salutations and regards to all of our friends, and especially to your wife, the Grosson and Billotti families, and Henry. Accept my warm regards and write to me, either in Venice where I will remain up to the 24th of this month, or to Milan thereafter.
Your most affectionate Bellini
à Monsieur Alexandre Lamperi
à Turin
Physical Attributes
No. Sheets 1
Letter name Bellini_65