Como, 15 luglio 1830
Como 15: Luglio 30:
Vuoi o non vuoi capire che la io a che pure di me \di come io stava/, nella prima sera che vidde la luce la detta opera, in Milano: basta, stò \in/ attenzione della notizia, che spero averla, Vennerdì, secondo tu mi dici.
Dì a Florimo che in questa posta non gli scrivo, poiché tu stesso gli potrai dare le mie nuove, non avendo altro a dirgli: fagli mille abb:ci per me, e che si stii allegramente se la Straniera non fosse andata ‹come› egli desiderava; mentre io son sicuro che egli non avrà dormito tante notti pel pensiero delle pruove.
‹Addio›. Salutami tutti gli amici e tutta la br‹ava› fam:a Cirillo. I rispetti alla tua cara mettà, e gli abb:ci a te. –
Il tuo
Bellini
Salutami Zio Giulio
Deux Siciles
Monsieur
Monsieur Guillaume Cottrau
à Naples
131
16.
Como, 15 July 1830
Vincenzo Bellini to Guglielmo Cottrau. Letter.
Aut. I-Rsc, Manoscritti 570. One bifolio, three sides plus address and partially preserved seal in red wax on the verso.
Ed. Florimo 1882, pp. 390-391; Cambi 1943, pp. 255-257; Neri 2005, pp. 173-174.
Como 15 July 30
My dear Cottrau
Why can't you get it into your head that the Straniera in Artaria's possession has been copied from my original score? How he obtained it is a mystery, but I've been assured that I'll find my identical Straniera waiting for me when I get to Bergamo, since I made it clear that I would scarcely be available for rehearsals and under no circumstances take up my pen to correct any eventual errors. This means Lanari also has a copy that Artaria sold to him, which naturally leads me to presume it too is accurate like the one in Bergamo. - Don't get your hopes up about finding many associates in Milan for printing the full scores of Straniera and Pirata, since there are very few amateurs dying to have the orchestration. Perhaps a half dozen are reasonably possible, so keep that in mind. - Thank you for your detailed account of the performance of my Straniera, and for your opinion of the composition itself. I hope Florimo's efforts were well rewarded, because he would have been terribly anxious under the circumstances, as was I the first time that opera saw the light in Milan. I'll say no more but rather wait for your news, which I hope to have on Friday as you've said.
I like Hernani very much, as do Pasta and Romani and everyone else who has read it, and I intend to begin work on it in early September. - I hope to come to Naples after said opera is premiered if I have no commissions for next year's fall season, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to leave Milan. - Be advised that the pieces from Capuleti are sent to you as soon as they're issued, so it's useless for you to complain. The reason it's taken so long is that Artaria is slow, but I hope the complete opera will be available in eight days. I've decided to dedicate this opera to my homeland in appreciation for the gold medal that was coined in my honor. -
Tell Florimo that I won't write to him now, since you can pass along my news yourself and I have nothing more to tell him. Give him my very warmest regards, adding that he should be happy even if La straniera didn't go quite as he would have wanted, since I'm sure he will have passed many sleepless nights fretting about the rehearsals.
Farewell. Give my salutations to all of our friends and the good Cirillo family. My respects to your beloved better half, and a warm embrace to you.
Your
Bellini
My salutations to Uncle Giulio
Deaux Siciles
Monsieur
Monsieur Guillaume Cottrau
à Naples