Very appealing and uncommon collection of four hardcover musical score books signed inside by Charles Gounod, including:
Romeo and Juliet: Opera in Five Acts by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, published by Choudens Pere & Fils of Paris, signed and inscribed on an opening page in blue pencil, “A Marie Anne de Bovet, Ch. Gounod.” Bovet was a prolific French novelist and feminist.
Polyeucte: Opera in Five Acts by Barbier and Carré, published by Henry Lemoine of Paris, signed and inscribed on an opening page in French in black ink (translated): “To my dear friends Comettant, this 18 Sept 1878—3rd anniversary of the day when I had ‘the pleasure’ of breaking my shoulder on their stairs, those of my friends and brothers, Ch. Gounod.” Oscar Comettant was a writer, pianist, composer, and dear friend of Gounod, who also worked as a music critic for Le Siecle and Le Menestrel. The front cover of the book bears Comettant’s name in large gilt lettering.
The Redemption: A Sacred Trilogy, novello’s original octavo edition, published by Novello, Ewer & Co. of London, signed on the title page in fountain pen, “Ch. Gounod, opus vita mea,” with the director of Novello, Ewer & Co. adding an inscription above: “E. J. Broadfield Esq. from his friend Henry Littleton.” Broadfield was a Manchester journalist who was the first chairman of the Halle Orchestra and the first biographer of pianist and conductor Charles Halle. Redemption premiered at the Birmingham Festival on August 30, 1882. Advertisements at the close of the book indicate that the oratorio was still ‘in press,’ thus making this copy one of the earliest printings to be issued.
Sapho: Opera in Three Acts by Emile Augier, published by Choudens of Paris, signed and inscribed in French on the title page in black ink (translated): “From the Muse of Lesbos to her Sister Adelina Patti, Ch. Gounod.” Adelina Patti, perhaps the most famous opera singer of the second half of the 19th century, was the preferred soprano of Rossini, Verdi, Wagner, and Gounod. Her debut rendition of Gounod’s Marguerite occurred in 1863, with Sapho, Gounod’s first opera, performed in 1851. In overall very good to fine condition, with varying degrees of soiling and wear to the covers, and some foxing and staining to some inner pages.
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