Milano, 1° settembre 1831
Milano 1:° Sett:e 31:
L’altro giorno ho lasciato Borgo Vico. La brava ed amorosa mamma Rachele seguita ad assistere la disgraziata
Addio mia buona amica! siate così, sempre contenta che la v‹ost›ra tenera madre ne gode assai assai come i vostri veri amici.
Abbraccio l’aereo Peppino e saluto
Vostro affsso Am‹ic›o
Bellini
Madame
Madame Iuditte Pasta
au théâtre Italien de
Paris
161
20.
Milan, 1 September 1831
Vincenzo Bellini to Giuditta Pasta. Letter.
Aut. US-NYp, MNY (Pasta) (Bellini). One bifolio, four sides plus address and partially preserved seal in red wax on the verso.
Ed. Maria Ferranti Giulini, Giuditta Pasta e i suoi tempi, Milano, Cronotipia Sormani, 1935, p. 139; Lippmann, pp. 283-284; Neri 2005, pp. 190-191.
Milan, 1 September 31
My dear friend
Just the other day I left Borgo Vico. [Your] kind and tenderhearted mamma Rachele continues to look after poor Giuditta, and I can assure you that her company, which is so full of affectionate care and concern, is quite dear to her. I believe Giuditta will spend some days at [Villa] Roda and I'm sorry that I won't be able to keep her company, but I now need to concentrate on the opera for which Romani gave me the introduzione only yesterday. I do hope you find this subject appealing; Romani believes it to be quite effective and suited to your own multifaceted character, because that is precisely the nature of Norma. He intends to construct the narrative in a way unlike that of any other subject, and he'll adjust and even rewrite whatever features are necessary to heighten the dramatic effect. You'll already have read [the play], so if some observation should come to mind please let me know; meanwhile you might procure costume designs similar to those that were realized for [the play in] Paris to bring with you, and if from your experienced perspective you find they are not refined enough you can have them modified accordingly. These are necessary for the theatrical management, so feel free to have them done. - May I take this opportunity to extend my congratulations for your latest triumphs which you've now added to countless others. It seemed impossible, my fair angel, that our epoch had not already exhausted every means of celebrating the talent and delicate sensitivity that infuse your very being, yet there remained additional, unexpected and great steps in your Ascent to Glory which Milan and London determined that you were to scale this year, such that the temple to your Glory has been lifted still higher. Forgive me for this heartfelt confession of all the admiration I feel, ever grateful for your commitment to such a fine performance of my Sonnambula in London. I hope you will undertake Il pirata as well, since I've learned from Marietti that Comelli is unwelcome to sing in that theatre. - Please see that Rossini continues to look after the faithful execution of my music, a request he can hardly dismiss from someone who honors him as his mentor.
Farewell my good friend! Always remain just as you are, ever cheerful and bringing such immense pleasure to your dear mother as well as your true friends.
A warm embrace to your jaunty Peppino, and my salutations to Lablache and his family. - If you care to pass along a word of greeting to your beloved daughter, please do so: your mother has told me that she lobbies on my behalf as well, for which I am most obliged. Meanwhile I remain, and would beg you to believe me in every way
Your most affectionate friend
Bellini
Madame
Madame Iuditte Pasta
au Théâtre Italien de
Paris