[Pasta, Giuditta. (1797 - 1865)] Paer, Ferdinando. (1771-1839). Saffo, Cantate Italienne a voix seule de soprano. Partition. - INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY TO GIUDITTA PASTA. Paris: Propriete de l'Auteur; chez les Principaux Marchands de Musique. [ca. 1815]. A remarkable association copy inscribed from the important Italian composer, one of the central figures in the development of the "opera semiseria" at the start of the 19th century, to the most celebrated soprano of the age, likely in the year of her first appearance in Paris. Upright folio. Title; 2 - 18 pp.  Engraved throughout. Inscribed at the head of the title page in brown ink "Alla Santa, ed ... Giuditta Pasta - L'Amico suo / L'Autore." Bound with string along the spine, edges and center of score a little creased and worn, some staining to the internal pages, else fine. 



In Vienna, Paer knew Beethoven and composed an opera "Leonora" (1804) the year before Beethoven's "Fidelio" (1805) with the same story. Paer succeeded Spontini as Director of the Theatre Italien in 1812 and retained the post during one of its finest periods until the mid-1820s. He composed many fine works which were frequently performed through the 19th century and he later became director of chamber music and Maitre de Chapelle to Louis-Philippe.