Beschreibung:

PUCCINI, Giacomo. Autograph letter signed to Giulio Ricordi, Grand Hotel Quirinale, Rome, n.d., 8 pages, 8vo , on bifolia. Problems with a production of Madame Butterfly -- and with a lover. Butterfly is to be shown the following Wednesday: the management had wished it to be earlier, but 'I was against this, asking for another rehearsal because the so-called dress rehearsal was the first and only with everyone! Especially for Acts II and III. Musically it wasn't too bad but in stage terms it was complete anarchy'. The remainder of the letter complains at length of the behaviour of 'Eloisa' -- who mercifully has remained in Milan: he has been suffering most of all from her 'morbosa gelosia' and her 'sistema di spionaggio' -- so that he dare not even walk out of the house to smoke a cigar, and his life and work have become impossible. He asks Ricordi for a word of encouragement and advice -- 'But advice that is practicable and possible'.