GALLI-MARIÉ CELESTINE: (1840-1905)

GALLI-MARIÉ CELESTINE: (1840-1905)

GALLI-MARIÉ CELESTINE: (1840-1905) French high Mezzo-Soprano, most remembered for playing the main role in Bizet´s premiere of his opera Carmen (1875). A very fine A.L.S., `Galli-Marié´, three pages, 8vo, [Paris], 12 rue de Milan, on her attractive printed stationery, bearing her initials, to an unidentified correspondent, in French. Galli-Marié asks a very important favour, stating in part `Vous souvenez-vous m´avoir rendu un grand service en obtenant de Monsieur de Leuven directeur de l´Opera comique, un congé qu´il me refusait? J´ai gardé un si bon et si vif souvenir de votre gracieuse intervention…´ (Translation: “Do you remember doing me a great favour, by obtaining from Mr. de Leuven, Director of the Opera Comique, a time off which he refused to me? I kept a so good souvenir of your gracious intervention…”) further explaining the reason of the new favour she is asking for, saying `Je viens encore vous demander de nous aider dans une circonstance bien sérieuse: il s´agit du concours de comédie qui va avoir lieu mardi prochain au conservatoire et d´une bourse que l´on accorde à la plus méritante; je désirerais beaucoup avoir votre voix pour Mademoiselle Marty, élève de Delaunay qui e nest très content; elle n´a pas encore 19 ans mais elle a vraiment de l´avenir comme vous pourrez en juger mardi, elle concourt dans une scene du marriage de Figaro…´ (Translation: “I have come to ask you again to help us in a very serious circumstance: it concerns the comedy competition which will take place next Tuesday at the conservatory and a scholarship which is granted to the most deserving; I would very much like to have your vote for Mademoiselle Marty, a pupil of Delaunay who is very happy with her; she is not yet 19 years old but she really has a future as you will be able to judge yourself on Tuesday, she competes in a scene from Le Nozze di Figaro…”) Together with a very attractive 4.5 x 6.5 cabinet photograph of Galli-Marié, unsigned, the Nadar cabinet photograph depicting the French artist in a three-quarter length pose in costume as Carmen in Bizet´s opera of same title. Bearing to the lower light border the printed red Nadar´s logo, and also bearing to the verso an attractive full Nadar logo and awards and other information. VG

Carmen is an opera in four acts by Georges Bizet, based on the novel of same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3rd March 1875, with Celestine Galli-Marié singing Carmen´s role. Its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalised its first audiences. Bizet died shortly after, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas.