Amica [Piano-vocal score, with composer's inscription] by MASCAGNI, Pietro 1863-1945 - 1905: Poème Dramatique en deux Actes de Paul Bérel. Version rythmique Française de Paul Collin. Version rythmique Italienne de Giovani Targioni-Tozzetti. Partition Piano et Chant transcrite par Adriano Ariani ... Edizione Italiana.

Paris: Choudens [PN A.C. 13,315], 1905. Folio. Half textured maroon cloth with textured maroon cloth boards, titling gilt to spine, with original publisher's upper wrapper with an illustration after an etching by [?]R. Aguet printed by Ch. Wittmann, Paris, bound in. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 1f. (recto cast list and table of contents, verso blank), 183, [i] (blank) pp. Music engraved by Baudon and printed in Paris by E. Dupré.

With the composer's autograph inscription signed in black ink to baritone Riccardo Stracciari, who performed the part of Rinaldo in the Italian production of the work, to upper portion of title: "All' indimenticabile 'Rinaldo' al Carissimo Amico Riccardo Stracciari con affetto e con ammirazione P Mascagni" and dated Rome, May 1905.

Price of "15 f. Net" printed to upper wrapper.

Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped. Upper wrapper slightly worn, stained, and soiled; occasional light soiling to margins; several leaves partially detached at lower inner margins; pp. 135-136 torn at lower corner, slightly affecting notation.

Together with:
An original role portrait photograph of Stracciari and Biancapelli as Rinaldo and Amica, ca. 203 x 158 mm. Slightly worn; two minor annotations in blue ink and remnants of former mount to verso. Probable First Edition of the first Italian version.

Amica, to a libretto by French publisher Paul de Choudens (Bérel was a pseudonym), was first performed in Monte Carlo at the Théâtre du Casino on March 16, 1905, and was an immediate success. The Italian premiere (with an Italian libretto by Mascagni's close collaborator, Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti) took place on May 13, 1905, with Riccardo Stracciari (1875-1955) as Rinaldo. Mascagni conducted both performances. It was the composer's only opera with a French libretto.

"Stracciari's mellow, velvety voice, coloured and resonant over its whole range, with an extended and penetrating upper register, made him, between 1905 and 1915, the rival of Titta Ruffo and Pasquale Amato. His repertory included all the great baritone roles and among the dramatic parts he preferred those in Il trovatore, Rigoletto and Aida. But, thanks to a technique characteristic of the best traditions of the 19th century, he excelled in works which allowed him to display his courtly enunciation, smooth singing, elegant phrasing and musical delicacy." Rodolfo Celletti in Grove Music Online.

A notable association copy.