Beschreibung:

Donizetti, Gaetano AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (“D.”), ABOUT REVISIONS TO THE FINALE OF THE OPERA "CATERINA CORNARO", [9 MARCH 1844] about the last Queen of Cyprus, giving detailed instructions to the librettist Giacomo Sacchèro, about the changes needed to the opera, now that in his plans for the revision Caterina’s lover Gerardo (tenor) will die before the end of the opera, defending Cyprus against the Venetians, explaining that he would almost prefer the curtain to come down after the tenor’s final aria, rather than having him lying around dead, but that it would be more affecting to to have a scene between Caterina and her dying husband Lusignano, the King of Cyprus (bass), mortally wounded in the fighting, in which he tells her that Gerardo died during the assault and begging her forgiveness for the unhappiness that she has suffered; Donizetti also expands the King's part, asking for a new cabaletta in his entrance aria, more lines for him in the quartet and a duet with Caterina before the final battle, where he declares he loves her and will die with her name on his lips "...Indi si cangi scena, e venga l’aria del Tenore--alla fine non va bene che resti lì morto, dunque quasi vorrei far calar la tela con un sol grido da Lei, ma parmi saria tenero l’abbraccio d’un morente ad una sposa, in 4. versi per tutti e due. E per renderli interessante è necessario dire che l’amante è morto, ma, gliel deve dire il rè morendo chiedendogli perdono di sofferti patimenti etc. Sai la mia divisa?...” 3 pages, 8vo ( c. 18.5 x 11.8cm), blind-stamped initials ("G.D."), integral autograph address panel, postmarks ("Wien [?]9. Mar:" etc ), remains of red seal, [Vienna, c. 9 March 1844],