143

Working to prevent a sub-standard performance of "Il trovatore" in Paris

Giuseppe Verdi

Letter Signed, "GVerdi," to attorney Charles Ballot,

in French, remarking that not only should the performance of Il trovatore be stopped, so should announcements of a performance, referring to instructions sent him on the matter by [Tito] Ricordi, requesting immediate action, expecting a reply, and offering to come to Paris, if necessary. 1½ pages, with integral address leaf; few faint scattered stains (likely contemporary), small hole at middle left from seal (without loss to text), moderate bleedthrough overall, sentence summarizing content written in tiny script after text in French in unknown hand, folds, address panel with cancelled blue 20-centimes "Empire Franc" postage stamp showing profile of Napoléon III.

Enghien-les-Bains, 15 September 1855. 

  • Notes: "I have just this instant read the program for the théâtre italien. Il Trovatore is announced in it. You know that I do not wish this work to be presented. On this point you have instructions from Mr. Ricordi. It is a question not only of stopping the performance but also of preventing them from publicizing that they intend to give my opera.
    "I pray for you to make a prompt decision on this matter, and to be good enough to reply to me by return mail at my address at Enghien-les-Bains. I shall come to Paris to talk with you if you think it necessary. . . ."

    On September 18, 1855, Tito Ricordi wrote to Ballot: "[I]t is always understood that whatever Verdi may decide, whether for or against this reproduction of Il Trovatore and other works of his that belong to me, you will then act entirely according to his will and decision."

    Although the Paris premiere of Il trovatore was performed in Italian by the Théâtre-Italien on December 23, 1854, Verdi was extremely reluctant to allow French performances of his works, because he believed the standards of quality there were significantly below those in Italy. In a letter to Giovanni Ricordi on January 13, 1852, Verdi wrote: "I've heard Norma, Sonnambula, and Maria Rohan. Believe me in all conscience, the whole thing is detestable. I haven't heard Ernani, but I think it will be even worse, if that's possible. The audience is right; you can't enjoy music performed that way. For my part, I frankly declare that if I could, I would prevent the performance of any of my works until all the necessary reforms had been made."
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April 9, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
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