Hirsch II.690.

JACQUES OFFENBACH (b.1819, d.1880): ‘Die schöne Helena’, opera in 3 acts to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, in a German translation by Ernst Dohm; 19th cent. Full score, in ink. Copy in a single hand on pages ruled with 24 staves. La belle Hélène was first performed at Paris, Variétés, 17 Dec. 1864. With amendments to the score and performance markings, in German and English, in pencil and red crayon, and with pencil notes on the inside of the front cover and on f. 1r giving details of the number of scores and parts required for performance. Stamps bearing the words ‘Carl Stelzer Theater Director’, ‘Eigenthum der Brauergilde zu Hannover’ and ‘Carl Waldmann Director und Eigenthümer Residenz-Theater Hannover’ are found on f. 1r, along with the number 83. The signature of the musical director Ivan [?] Christoph is found on f. 45 of Vol. I with the words ‘Am 10/2 1878 Frau Fischer Svoboda als Gast in Warasdin’. Signatures of Christoph and of Joseph Pohl appear on ff. 42v and 112v of Vol. II. On f. 112v, the date 1877 is given below Christoph’s signature. Two pencil sketches of a man’s head, in profile, appear on the title page of Act 3 (Vol. II, f. 79). For the autograph full score see British Library, Zweig 72. Purchased as part of the Paul Hirsch Music Library, 1946.

Two volumes. 320 x 250mm.

Jacques Offenbach, composer: Ludovic Halévy, dramatist: Henri Meilhac, dramatist: Ernst Dohm, writer: 'La belle Hélène', opera by Jacques Offenbach, to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, translated by Ernst Dohm: 19th cent.: Germ: Copy.