Giacomo Meyerbeer letters
Scope and Contents note
Two handwritten manuscript letters written by German Opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer in Italian. Three leaves in all. The 1800 letter describes Meyerbeer’s efforts to obtain tickets for his correspondent. The tickets obtained turned out to be from friends once they knew they were for the admirable pupil of Cluny. The March 19, 1831 letter is written to another composer. Gasparo Spontini. Written in Italian but address in French to Spontini at the “Hotel Chatam.” Meyerbeer has cut short a meeting about my opera which I should have had today but nevertheless returned too late on account of still more work to say farewell to Spontini. He is sorry not to have been able to say bon voyage in person, but sends his best wishes to Spontini and to his wife. He signs himself your warm admirer. Also present is the accompanying address panel.
Dates
- 1800-1831
Creator
- Meyerbeer, Giacomo, 1791-1864 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use note
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Giacomo Meyerbeer letters must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) was a German opera composer.
Giacomo Meyerbeer was born September 5, 1791 in Germany. He was an opera composer of early 19th century Europe. By 1831, Dpontini, another composer, had lost ground on his reputation to the works of younger men, including Meyerbeer, whose Robert le Diable was first performed eight months after the date of this letter; this is perhaps the opera mentioned here, though Meyerbeer may be referring to the abortive Le Portefaix, the contract for which he had just signed. Despite the apparent warmth of their relationship, Spontini was already jealous. His own continuing lack of success he attributed to a plot orchestrated by Meyerbeer, for whom he developed a pathological hatred; this attitude. . . reached its zenith when Meyerbeer replaced him [as Generalmusikdirektor] in Berlin in 1842. Grove. Giacomo died May 2, 1864 and was buried in the Berlin Jewish Cemetery.
Extent
1 folder (0.02 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
Italian
Abstract
Two handwritten manuscript letters written by German Opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer in Italian, 1800-1831.
Custodial History note
Donated by Diana J. Rendell and Lisa Cox in 1990 and 1992.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donated; Diana J. Rendell and Lisa Cox; 1990 and 1992.
Appraisal note
Utah and the American West (Collection development policy for 19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts, August 2009).
Processing Information note
Processed; Karen Glenn; 27 February 2009.
- Title
- Register of Giacomo Meyerbeer letters
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Karen Glenn and H. Christine Swindler, student processors and John Murphy, curator
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States