Autograph letter from the Italian composer, teacher of Puccini and Mascagni at the Milano Conservatory and whose "La Gioconda" remains a favorite, to the set designer Ercole Sormani. Together with a sheet of autograph notes in Ponchielli's hand, recording his students' grades for their counterpoint class! The sheet of notes (3 pp. of a bifolium) gives details of the grades for thirteen students, as well as for some of those notes on their compositions of a fugue and a barcarolle, their ages and their number of years of study. Letter 6.25 x 4 inches (15.9 x 10 cm); notes 8 x 12 inches (20 x 30 cm). Some toning and light soiling, but overall fine.

Autograph letter (1 p., September 5, 1880), translated from the Italian, reads: "Dear Sig. Sormani: if you need me today I am at your disposal, and tomorrow morning as well. I have thought about the modifications from last time. Towards 4, I will be at Via dell'Orso no. 5 [...] A. Ponchielli."