LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Profiles in History) Amassed over a thirty-year period by one single collector, Profiles in History's The Celebration of Music: Property of a
Private Collector auction taking place on December 17, 2014 is a rare compilation of the finest musical pieces, prints, letters, manuscripts and leaflets written by some of the world's most celebrated and glorious composers. Lots from Bellini, Bizet, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, Gershwin, Ponchielli, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and so many more are just a few of the highly anticipated offerings available to ardent music collectors.
Most noteworthy in the collection is the magnificent leaf from one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most attractive Salzburg works at a pre-auction estimate of $200,000+. The Serenade in D For Orchestra. K.185, the working manuscript of the third movement "Allegro" leaf 34, scored for an orchestra of two oboes, two horns and strings and solo violin, executed in brown ink on a single 8-stave system per page. Also available is Mozart's The First Edition of Die Zauberflöte, issued in parts beginning in November 27, 1791 running to 1793, this was the earliest edition of the piano vocal score to be advertised and the most authoritative as Mozart himself prepared it after the 30
September 1791 premiere. Three of the parts were issued in his lifetime. This is an extraordinarily rare set to assemble and the present set, with only two numbers in facsimile, is the most complete offered at auction in years. ($12,000+)
From Ludwig Van Beethoven, is an unpublished autographed letter signed twice in German. Writing in his capacity as legal guardian to his nephew, Beethoven requests a favorable response from an unidentified correspondent. The formal tone of the letter suggests the composer is appealing for assistance with an official matter on behalf of his nephew, Karl (pre-auction estimate: $80,000+).
Beethoven's. Sinfonie Pour 2 Violons 2 Violes, Violoncelle et Contre-Violon, 2 Flûtes, petite Flûte, 2 Hautboix, 2 Clarinettes, 2 Bassons, Contre Basson, 2 Cors, 2 Trompettes, Timbales et 3 Trompes…No 5 des Sinfonies. [Complete set of parts.] Leipsic, Breitkopf & Härtel, featuring the extremely rare third issue corrected edition with the five bar motto; the added grace notes in bar 259 of the third movement of the viola part; and the addition of arco in the 4th movement also in the viola part ($8,000+).
Rare autographed musical manuscripts from Franz
Peter Schubert, in pristine condition, are being offered. The complete Waltz in G Major (Albumblatt) for piano (D.844) by Schubert in his own hand ($75,000+) and his two radiant Lieder composed on the same day by the then only 18-year old Schubert ($100,000+).
The Celebration of Music: Property of a
Private collector auction features a rich selection of autographed letters from such renowned composers such as Vincenzo Bellini's autographed letter to Baron Denois signed ("Bellini") in Italian, writing details of his famous Norma opera. It was first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26 December 1831. The opera is regarded as a leading example of the bel canto genre and a major soprano aria, "Casta diva," in Act 1, is one of the most renowned opera's of the nineteenth century and the letter an extreme rarity since it discusses Norma ($10,000+).
The missing second leaf of the earliest manuscript of
George Frideric Handel's autographed manuscript will, containing three words on the recto and three lines on the verso in his hand. Handel's autographs are considered among the rarest of the great composers ($30,000+).
From Georges Bizet, a stunning autographed manuscript of Act I, Scene 10 of Carmen--the Sequidilla
An opera in four acts, Carmen stands as Georges Bizet's greatest accomplishment. Also considered excessively rare, since only one other leaf from Carmen (a lengthy quotation from "The Flower Song") has been sold at auction since 1975 ($40,000+).
A highly important autograph music signed by Johannes Brahms, dated March, 1897. Accompanied by an image of Brahms and written with a feeble hand, Brahms writes out three measures of music, the last lines of Johannes Brahms before his death. An extraordinary group of manuscripts connecting Brahms at the very end of his life with three important and admiring musical figures of the late nineteenth century, Eduard Hanslick and
Josef Hofmann ($20.000+).
Well represented is
George Gershwin, as the auction features the highly important and extremely rare autographed music signed in three places with lyrics in the composer's hand. A song composed in 1936 by
George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, "By Strauss" is one of the most memorable compositions by the Gershwin brothers. Musical manuscripts by Gershwin of this length are rarely found at auction. The last autograph music of comparable length was sold at auction over 25 years ago ($75,000+). In addition, a warm "get well" letter to
Dorothy Heyward featuring an autographed letter signed with musical quotation, to
Dorothy [Heyward], on the composer's ONE THIRTY-TWO EAST SEVENTY-SECOND STREET NEW YORK stationery, The letter includes a musical quotation of three bars from Porgy and Bess, "
Summertime" ($8,000+).
A superb musical quotation from
Claude Debussy's "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune."
Autograph musical quotation inscribed and signed, in French May 1914; the musical quotation is inscribed by Debussy at head by the composer, for Monsieur Jacques Renaud, and identified at lower left as being from his famous "Prelude" ($5,000+).
A fine autograph musical quotation from Gaetano Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore, being eight bars replete with text. Written in just six weeks, L'Elisir d'amore was the most often performed opera in Italy between 1838 and 1848 and it has remained continually in the international opera repertory. Today it is one of the most frequently performed of all Donizetti's operas ($5,000+).
From one of the greatest composers of the Classical period Franz Joseph Haydn, a fine autographed letter to Dr. Charles Burney requesting a canzonetto from, the foremost music historian of his time in England. Haydn was often a guest of Burney and frequently played chamber music at his home. Autograph letters in the hand of Haydn are extremely rare and only three letters from Haydn to Dr. Burney have appeared at auction since 1975 ($20,000+).
Qualified bidders can participate in person, by telephone, submit absentee bids or participate online in real time from anywhere with
Internet access across the globe. For more information, please visit www.profilesinhistory.com.
Auction Details:
Wednesday, December 17, 2014.
Location: Profiles in History Offices
26662 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; Phone: 310-859-7701
About Profiles In History: Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the nation's leading dealer of guaranteed-authentic original historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts and original Hollywood Memorabilia. www.profilesinhistory.com
