Wolf, Hugo. (1860–1903). Autograph Letter to Haberlandt about "Manuel.". Autograph letter, 1 page, to Michael Haberlandt. Vienna, 15 September, 1897. The letter reports that Wolf has yesterday afternoon completed the monologue to Manuel despite the disturbance of numerous visits, and reads in part: "Gestern Nachmittag den ganzen Monolog des Manuel in einem Zuge aufgeschrieben, trotz vielfacher Storungen durch Besuche. Rufe fur den nachsten Sontag Nachmittag alle Getreuen unter die Fahne. Ich werde aus der neuen Oper vorspielen..." 14 x 9 cm and in fine condition. Sold together with a vintage postcard photograph of the composer.
The Austrian folklorist and Indologist, Michael Haberlandt (1860 - 1940) was an important supporter of Hugo Wolf and was one of the founders of the Hugo Wolf Society.
The Austrian composer died tragically young of syphilis while committed to an asylum for the insane and autograph material is uncommon. At the end of July, 1897 Wolf had begun feverishly working on his opera "Manuel Venegas," and "despite interruptions, the opera's opening began to take shape as Wolf's swings from manic gaiety to irascibility became more pronounced. In mid-September his boast that he had been appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera, and had sacked the current director, Gustav Mahler, signaled the onset of madness. Inviting his friends to hear his new opera and congratulate him, on September 20 he played through the 50 completed pages of vocal score, blissful, raving, and wholly insane, as his friends clustered around him in stunned misery -- a scene famously adapted by Thomas Mann in his novel Doktor Faustus (1947). Wolf's polished fragment introduces characters and motifs without reaching the great dramatic moments that had tempted him, though the opening Spring Chorus is one of the freshest, most evocative, and inspired in his entire oeuvre." (Adrian Corleonis, All Music)
The Austrian folklorist and Indologist, Michael Haberlandt (1860 - 1940) was an important supporter of Hugo Wolf and was one of the founders of the Hugo Wolf Society.
The Austrian composer died tragically young of syphilis while committed to an asylum for the insane and autograph material is uncommon. At the end of July, 1897 Wolf had begun feverishly working on his opera "Manuel Venegas," and "despite interruptions, the opera's opening began to take shape as Wolf's swings from manic gaiety to irascibility became more pronounced. In mid-September his boast that he had been appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera, and had sacked the current director, Gustav Mahler, signaled the onset of madness. Inviting his friends to hear his new opera and congratulate him, on September 20 he played through the 50 completed pages of vocal score, blissful, raving, and wholly insane, as his friends clustered around him in stunned misery -- a scene famously adapted by Thomas Mann in his novel Doktor Faustus (1947). Wolf's polished fragment introduces characters and motifs without reaching the great dramatic moments that had tempted him, though the opening Spring Chorus is one of the freshest, most evocative, and inspired in his entire oeuvre." (Adrian Corleonis, All Music)
Wolf, Hugo. (1860–1903). Autograph Letter to Haberlandt about "Manuel.". Autograph letter, 1 page, to Michael Haberlandt. Vienna, 15 September, 1897. The letter reports that Wolf has yesterday afternoon completed the monologue to Manuel despite the disturbance of numerous visits, and reads in part: "Gestern Nachmittag den ganzen Monolog des Manuel in einem Zuge aufgeschrieben, trotz vielfacher Storungen durch Besuche. Rufe fur den nachsten Sontag Nachmittag alle Getreuen unter die Fahne. Ich werde aus der neuen Oper vorspielen..." 14 x 9 cm and in fine condition. Sold together with a vintage postcard photograph of the composer.
The Austrian folklorist and Indologist, Michael Haberlandt (1860 - 1940) was an important supporter of Hugo Wolf and was one of the founders of the Hugo Wolf Society.
The Austrian composer died tragically young of syphilis while committed to an asylum for the insane and autograph material is uncommon. At the end of July, 1897 Wolf had begun feverishly working on his opera "Manuel Venegas," and "despite interruptions, the opera's opening began to take shape as Wolf's swings from manic gaiety to irascibility became more pronounced. In mid-September his boast that he had been appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera, and had sacked the current director, Gustav Mahler, signaled the onset of madness. Inviting his friends to hear his new opera and congratulate him, on September 20 he played through the 50 completed pages of vocal score, blissful, raving, and wholly insane, as his friends clustered around him in stunned misery -- a scene famously adapted by Thomas Mann in his novel Doktor Faustus (1947). Wolf's polished fragment introduces characters and motifs without reaching the great dramatic moments that had tempted him, though the opening Spring Chorus is one of the freshest, most evocative, and inspired in his entire oeuvre." (Adrian Corleonis, All Music)
The Austrian folklorist and Indologist, Michael Haberlandt (1860 - 1940) was an important supporter of Hugo Wolf and was one of the founders of the Hugo Wolf Society.
The Austrian composer died tragically young of syphilis while committed to an asylum for the insane and autograph material is uncommon. At the end of July, 1897 Wolf had begun feverishly working on his opera "Manuel Venegas," and "despite interruptions, the opera's opening began to take shape as Wolf's swings from manic gaiety to irascibility became more pronounced. In mid-September his boast that he had been appointed director of the Vienna Court Opera, and had sacked the current director, Gustav Mahler, signaled the onset of madness. Inviting his friends to hear his new opera and congratulate him, on September 20 he played through the 50 completed pages of vocal score, blissful, raving, and wholly insane, as his friends clustered around him in stunned misery -- a scene famously adapted by Thomas Mann in his novel Doktor Faustus (1947). Wolf's polished fragment introduces characters and motifs without reaching the great dramatic moments that had tempted him, though the opening Spring Chorus is one of the freshest, most evocative, and inspired in his entire oeuvre." (Adrian Corleonis, All Music)