Beschreibung:

Opera. Rossi, Bastiano de' Descrizione dell'apparato e degl'intermedi fatti per la commedia rappresentata in Firenze nelle nozze de' Serenissimi Don Ferdinando Medici, e Madama Cristina di Loreno, Gran Duchi di Toscana, Florence: Antonio Padovani, 1589 4to (19.3 x 13.7cm), woodcut device on title-page, woodcut initials, without blank leaf A4, Dolmetsch Library stamp and pencil shelfmark ("II C 6") to verso of title-page, later paper wrappers, occasional light spotting An important milestone in the history of opera. The wedding of Grand Duke Ferdinando de' Medici and Christina of Lorraine was celebrated in April 1589 and followed by sixteen days of entertainments, including in particular intermedi (musical interludes within the theatrical comedy, Bargagli's La Pellegrina) which were performed at least twice during the festivities, in the newly-built Uffizi theatre. Forty-one of the most celebrated musicians of the day participated in the performances. The intermedi were composed by Emilio de' Cavalieri, Cristofano Maluezzi of Lucca, Luca Marenzio (the latter two to words by Ottavio Rinuccini) and Giulio Caccini (to words by Giovambattista Strozzi). The scenery and settings were recorded in a volume of prints showing the designs of Bernardo Buontalenti LITERATURE: Edit16 27781; Watanabe-O'Kelly & Simon 1222; Nino Pirotta, Music and Theatre from Poliziano to Monteverdi [translation of Li due Orfei], (1982), pp.208-236Condition reportCondition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate Condition 11 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The