Ballet

An important AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by the great Italian Opera composer GIACOMO PUCCINI to the publishers Fratelli Treves on behalf of his friend the Italian poet novelist and playwright Enrico Pea.

1921 · 100261 — <p>Milano January 15 1921. 1921. Very good. - Over 60 words penned in Italian on 10-1/2 inch high by 8-1/4 inch wide cream "Via Verdi 4 Milano" stationery. Puccini writes to the publishers Fratelli Treves on behalf of his friend the writer Enrico Pea. He addresses Guido Treves the nephew of the firm's founder Emilio Treves who took over the company upon Emilio's death in 1916. Guido Treves ran the company with his wife Antonietta. Puccini writes that there is a manuscript awaiting publication at Treves' house. It is from his dear friend the Apuan region poet Enrico Pea. He asks that publication be expedited as there is a second volume ready for print. Puccini states that he wrote to Beltrami Giovanni Beltrami the managing director at Fratelli Treves who promised that it would be published soon. Signed "tuo yours G. Puccini" followed by his regards to Guido's wife. Folded horizontally and vertically for mailing the letter is slightly creased at the corners with a couple of minuscule chips to the edges. Once mounted there are remnants of archival tape along the top edge of the verso.</p><p>Giacomo Puccini often enjoyed a table at the Antico Caffe di Simo in Lucca with his friend Enrico Pea.</p><p>The book being discussed by Puccini is without doubt the first volume in Pea's "Trilogia del Moscardino" simply titled "Moscardino" published by Fratelli Treves in 1922. The book was translated into English by Ezra Pound. It was reviewed in the January 1 2005 edition of the New York Review of Books: "A small masterpiece Pea's lyrical autobiographical novel paints a fiery and intimate portrait of an old man through the brushstrokes of his grandson. The passions and tensions between the old eccentric and his brothers play themselves out in mythical sketches before a vivid backdrop of the hills of Lunigiana. Moscardino the first novella of his tetralogy Il romanzo di Moscardino is anarchic and haunting. Pound conducts Pea's vernacular song allowing images to flow from the land the flesh and beyond."</p><p>Little needs to be said about the life of the great Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini 1858-1924 who composed several of the best known Italian operas. His works include "Manon Lescaut" "La Boheme" "Madama Butterfly" and "Turandot" among many other works.</p><p>The Italian poet novelist playwright and theatre impressario Enrico Pea 1881-1958 produced literary works that are said to be divided into two periods. The first being that of "Moscardino" and the second beginning with "Il Figlioccia" which takes on a softer delicate modulated style.</p> Milano, January 15, 1921.