Hirsch II.691.

JACQUES OFFENBACH (b.1819, d.1880): ‘Orfeus in der Unterwelt’, opera in 4 acts to a libretto by Hector-Jonathan Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy, in a German translation; 19th cent. Full score, in ink. Copy in a single hand on pages ruled with 20 staves. Orphée aux enfers was first performed in a two-act version at Paris, Bouffes-Parisiens, 21 Oct. 1858. The four-act version was first performed at Paris, Gaîté, 7 Feb. 1874. With performance markings, in German, in pencil and red and blue crayon, and with notes on the inside of the front cover and on f. 1r of Vol. I giving details of the number of scores and parts required for performance. Cuts are marked in blue crayon and by folds to some of the leaves. ff. 77-78 of Vol. II have been glued together at the corners. Stamps bearing the words ‘Carl Stelzer Theater Director’ and ‘Eigenthum der Brauergilde zu Hannover’ are found on f. 1r of each volume, along with the number 102. Pencil sketches of a man’s head, in profile, appear on ff. 99 and 100v of Vol. I. Purchased as part of the Paul Hirsch Music Library, 1946.

Two volumes. 315 x 250mm. Plain boards with cover labels printed with the words ‘Rastrir- & Büchereinband-Anst. v. K. G. Förk & G. Uhrmann Temesvár’.

Jacques Offenbach, composer: Ludovic Halévy, dramatist: H. J. Crémieux, writer of plays: 'Orphée aux enfers', opera by Jacques Offenbach, to a libretto by H. J. Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy: 19th cent.: Germ: Copy.