T2

Gounod, La Nonne sanglante

opéra en cinq actes

vocal score
Original work: Charles Gounod (1818–93), La Nonne sanglante, opera in five acts, libretto by Scribe and Delavigne, first played at the Opéra on 18-10-1854.
Transcription: 1853-1854, while Bizet was a fifteen-year-old student at the Conservatoire. This was his first published transcription. The Ouverture is arranged for four hands, the rest reduced for piano accompaniment. The Introduction 'ne se joue que pour remplacer l’Ouverture.' This transcription was privately printed, then issued by Brandus & Dufour, then taken over by Choudens. A second edition appeared from Choudens in about 1862, in response to the success of Faust. Yet the opera was not revived after its initial short run of performances. In 1872 Bizet made more arrangements of extracts for Choudens, which appear not to have been published.
Autograph score: not known
Printed scores:
1
pl. no.:

0-23, one for each number of the opera (Ouverture, p. 1-23, is 0, with the Introduction, no. 1, on p. 24-26).

pages:

title page, blank, distribution et table, music 3-366. Each number has its own separate pagination also.

date: 2-1855
note:The publication was financed by the Zimmerman family (Gounod’s in-laws), and no publisher is named. Certain numbers are marked with separate prices, i.e. Ouverture and nos. 1, 3, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 (Ballets A–D), and 22.
copies:

F-Pn Vm7 718 (stamped 1855)

F-Po A585b

US-STu
2

Brandus & Dufour, from the same plates, with the same plate numbers and same price, 366 p., 1855. The title page is the same with the publisher's imprint 'BRANDUS, DUFOUR & Cie 103, rue Richelieu' at the foot. Copy: US-CAe HD Mus 690.2.612.2. Their publication of twelve extracts (see below) was announced in La France musicale on 24-2-1855.

3

Choudens, rue St Honoré 265, from the same plates, with the same plate numbers, but a new title page (which does not mention Bizet), 366 p., @ 15 fr., issued, according to Prod’homme et Dandelot (Gounod, vol. 2, p. 256), on 28-7-1855. Copies: US-NHub (inscribed by Gounod to E. Perier), US-Wc M1503.G711N6 Case (inscribed by Gounod ‘l’auteur de Faust,’ i.e. after 1859, to Mme Carvalho), C-WIu, GB-Cu, GB-Ob, GB-Ouf, US-BLl, US-LIu, US-R.

4

Choudens, rue St Honoré 265, from the same plates, with the same plate numbers, 301 p. This edition lacks the Ouverture (22 p.), and shows cuts and revisions in nos 4, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20 and Ballets A and B. No. 17 (p. 177–79), Marche nuptiale (IMSLP), has a new heading ‘pour le piano par Ch. Gounod’, with pl. no. A.C. 813, followed by ‘Valse caractéristique’ (p. 180–85), also ‘pour le piano par Ch. Gounod’ with pl. no. A.C. 811. Copy: GB-Lbl G.255.d (with the price increased to 25f in ink)

5

Choudens, rue St Honoré 265, plate numbers 0–23 and A.C. 921 throughout, 301 p., c. 1861, @ 15 fr. The four foreign publishers listed at the foot of the earlier title page have been removed. Copies: D-B, GB-Lbl G255b, GB-Ouf, NL-DHk, US-AAu, US-Bp, US-BEm, US-CAe Mus 690.2.612, US-Cn, US-Cu, US-LIu, US-NYj, US-PHf, US-PRu, US-Wc M1503.G711.N6.

6

Lucie Galland, Heilbronn, 366 p., 1998. Reprint of the original edition.


Printed score, extracts:

nos. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 and 22

1

Brandus & Dufour, from the original plates, issued, according to La France musicale, on 24-2-1855. Copies: US-CAe HD Mus 690.612.5 (complete set), with the original title page indicating no publisher. E-Mn MP/3989/21 is a separate issue of no. 17 as Marche nuptiale (IMSLP).

2

Choudens took over the issue of the same morceaux détachés, with no. 14 in three keys (Choudens 1861 Catalogue).

Letters:
1872, to Choudens:
'Vous trouverez ci-joints : 1o la valse de la Nonne à deux voix. 2o 3o les simplifications des deux romances de la dite Nonne. '
F-Pmlm 462
[1873], to Choudens:
[Il fait d'abord la liste de dix pièces qu'il envoie, des transcriptions de La Nonne sanglante et de chœurs (Temple ouvre-toi) de Gounod, et les premières épreuves de ses deux recueils.]
Vente Piasa, 27-3-2003

Bibliography: