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French composer (1818-1893) best remembered for his composition of 'Ave Maria.' Unsigned handwritten musical manuscript by Charles Gounod, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 12.25 x 9.75, being an excerpt of music and lyrics from his four-act opera Cinq-Mars, which debuted at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on April 5, 1877. The excerpt (complete in itself) corresponds to the aria of Father Joseph, the famous "éminence grise" of Richelieu. In fine condition.
Commissioned by Opéra-Comique director Léon Carvalho in 1876, Cinq-Mars was composed by Charles Gounod to a libretto by Paul Poirson and Louis Gallet, adapted from Alfred de Vigny's historical novel of the same name. Set during the administration of Cardinal Richelieu, the four-act opera dramatizes the conspiracy and downfall of the Marquis de Cinq-Mars. This manuscript preserves the aria of Father Joseph, Richelieu's trusted confidant and the celebrated ‘éminence grise.’ Premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on April 5, 1877, Cinq-Mars occupied an unusual place in the company's repertory, presenting a dark historical subject in a form that blended elements of grand opera with opéra-comique. Despite revisions by Gounod, the work remained on the stage for 56 performances before being withdrawn in January 1878.
