François-Adrien BOIELDIEU. L.A.S., November 6, 1824, to Édou - Lot 365

François-Adrien BOIELDIEU. L.A.S., November 6, 1824, to Édouard Boilly in Rome; 2 1/2 pages in-4, addressed. Long and interesting letter to his pupil, then a resident at the Villa Medici. Édouard Boilly (1799-1854) was the son of the painter Louis-Léopold Boilly. He was unwell after rehearsals for Béniowski ou Les Exilés du Kamtchatka (1800, new version at the Opéra-Comique on July 20, 1824), "then I went for a walk in Normandy, I went to show Adrien the sea, I ran some campaigns". He encourages Boilly to "do an Italian opera of La Somnanbule... It's certainly a charming setting for music, besides being a very pretty piece. Although the Italians only pay attention to the music, the interest of the poem not only further aspires the composer, but also adds greatly to the musical illusion of the spectator". He cites Rossini's operas, whose "good poems" contributed to their success. "There's a lovely hue to be given to the whole somnanbulism scene. Mutes can and should play a big part, and this kind of mysterious music always has an effect. There's a lovely duet to be made between the two lovers, and the valet can be a lovely bouffe role"... Then he talks about the Institut competition, and Le Sueur's intrigues. Adolphe Adam competed against Guillon and Barbero [Barbereau], who won 1st prize. As for the state of music in Paris, "we seem a little tired of Rossini, but we don't want to admit it. [...] Beniowsky had a great musical success and brought back to me many people who had drifted away from it. I wasn't angry about this little ordeal; it really gave me self-confidence. So I am assured now that our French public is no more attached to one genre than another, provided that the effect is frank, that there is singing, good taste and a significant orchestra, whatever the genre or school"... Scribe brought him a new work: "on reading its three acts, we found that it was a comedy subject and not an opera. It will be very piquant and quite musical. It's the White Lady, a mixture of Guy Manering and Walter Scott's Monastery. In short, I'm very happy and I'm starting work tomorrow so as not to leave until this 1st act is finished"...