[Farinelli, Giuseppe. (1769 - 1836)] Foulon, Elise. . I riti d'Efeso. Scena e Duetto / Il mio dolce, e vivo ardore / Esegito dalla Sigra. Bandi, ed il Sigr. Dramesani / Del sig. / Giuseppe Farinelli / Del Nobilissimo Teatro la Fenice il Carnevale 1804. - AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT. Autograph manuscript apparently in the hand of copyist or performer Elise Foulon (as signed at foot of title), oblong folio, 26 sheets (52 pp), prepared for the "Teatro la Fenice" in Venice for a performance on the occasion of the 1804 Carnival festival. 31.5 x 22 cm. Laid paper, hand-drawn staves. A few stains, mostly around the edges but two affecting a few bars of music, otherwise fine.


The selection is from Farinelli's "I riti d'Efeso," a "dramma eroico per musica" in 2 acts, libretto by Gaetano Rossi, premiered at the same theater (La Fenice) in the previous year, on 26 December 1803 in a double bill with Filippo Beretti's Atamaro e Obeide.


Active at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, Farinelli excelled in particular at writing opera buffas. Considered the successor and most successful imitator of Domenico Cimarosa, "I riti d'Efeso" is considered one of the greatest of his roughly 60 operas, more than 2/3 of which were produced between 1800-1810 at the height of his popularity.