RIMSKII-KORSAKOV, Nikolai Andreevich.

Muzykal'nyia kartinki k Skazke o Tsare Saltane. Siuita dlia orkestra ... Musikalische Bilder zum Mährchen von dem Zaren Saltan. Suite für Orchester ... Op. 57 ...

St Petersburg, W. Bessel; Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel, [1901]. Folio, pp. 71, [1]; with presentation inscription, in Russian, 'To the dear and talented director of my operas in fond memory, with love and thanks, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, 3 December 1900, St Petersburg' to the title, with another inscription, in Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov's hand, at the foot of the page; the score marked up in blue and orange crayon for performance; original bookseller's stamp to foot of title, plate number 4880; a very good copy in plain paper wrappers with cloth spine, the original printed wrappers trimmed and laid down (front one a little scratched and stained); in a folding cloth box. First edition of the full score of Rimsky-Korsakov's suite from The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1900, libretto by Belsky after Pushkin). These 'little pictures' (which, sadly, do not include perhaps the most famous part of the opera, 'The Flight of the Bumblebee') arose out of the, in Rimsky-Korsakov's words, 'rather longish' orchestral preludes to Acts I, II and IV. The first public performance of the Kartinki was in December 1899, conducted by Rimsky-Korsakov himself, according to whom they 'sounded brilliant in the orchestra and were much liked'.The premiere of the opera itself followed in October 1900, and 'was greeted by a thunderous ovation. Following the prologue, Rimsky-Korsakov was called out three times to the blare of a fanfare and deafening applause from the audience, who jumped up in their seats at the sight of him ... By the end of the opera, [he] had taken twenty-five curtain calls!' (V. V. Yastrebtsev, Reminiscences of Rimsky-Korsakov, 1985, p. 266). The conductor of that performance was the owner of this copy, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, who had studied composition under Rimsky-Korsakov in St Petersburg. He was director of the Mamontov Opera in Moscow, where he championed the works of his former teacher. He later became director of the Moscow Conservatoire and the Bolshoi Theatre.

• GBP 4,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: F976

• bookseller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd. (GREAT BRITAIN)