"I find myself quite embarrassed, mortified, upset" - Collection of Correspondence

Collection of five typed letters signed, two autograph postcards, and a telegram from the Italian pianist and conductor to Professor Irma Antonetto of the Associazione Culturale Italiana, regarding various attempts to schedule a speaking engagement.  Gavazzeni proposed to give a talk on "the psychological experiences of an orchestra conductor," but his busy schedule as principal conductor of La Scala made it difficult for him to find time.  A TLS dated 10 September 1957 reads, in part and translated from the Italian, "At [the end of March], I should have two weeks off from La Scala.  However, as a precaution, keep a week in reserve, since La Scala sometimes changes its calendar."  And indeed, it did.  The next letter, dated 3 March 1958, begins "Unfortunately I'm in trouble...the calendar of March at La Scala, as it has solidified in the last few days, has me assisting with Dargomyzhsky's The Stone Guest at La Piccola Scala on the 21st, in charge on the 22nd, and conducting the first performance on the 24th.  Immediately after that, I start the rehearsals of Il turco in Italia at the Piccola and Anna Bolena at the 'grande.'  During April, both those operas and the reprise of Butterfly until the 24th; on the 25th I leave for Vienna where I will remain at the State Opera for a good part of May.  I find myself quite embarrassed, mortified, upset...if once again you have clemency."

The difficulties scheduling an appearance continued for several more years.  The final dated correspondence, from 9 June 1963, finds Gavazzeni once again willing, but unsure if his schedule at La Scala will accommodate an appearance.  Throughout all of the letters, including an undated missive that seems more sure about his ability to speak at the ACI than any of the others, the theme of his proposed talk remains more or less consistent: "The psychological and artistic experiences of an orchestra conductor."  Mailing creases, vertical fold to left edge of two letters, else in fine condition.

Gianandrea Gavazzeni was principal conductor of La Scala from 1948 until just before his death.  The ACI archive lists him among its many guest speakers, though neither a year nor a topic is listed.

Irma Antonetto (1920-1993), was founder and director of the Associazione Culturale Italiana [Association of Italian Culture] for 46 years, during which time she brought some 400 philosophers, writers, scientists, artists, and Nobel winners to lecture in Italy. She was recipient of the 1964 Cavaliere al merito della Repubblica italiana. (19136)

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TLS

Classical Music

Opera

Autograph Letter

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