T34

Thomas, Hamlet

opéra en cinq actes

piano duet
Original work: Ambroise Thomas (1811–96), Hamlet, opera in five acts, libretto by Barbier and Carré, composed 1866–67, first played at the Opéra on 9-3-1868.
Transcription: 1868, for publication by Heugel. Nine extracts appeared that year, followed by the full opera a year later.
Autograph score: not known
Printed score, extracts:
1

Heugel, 2bis rue Vivienne, announced in Le Ménestrel on 16-8-1868 and in the Bibliographie de la France on 5-9- 1868. Nine extracts, sold separately. Copies: F-Pn Vm2 908 (stamped 1868), F-Pn Ac.p.1829 (complete) (dépôt légal 1868). IMSLP



La Fête du Printemps, 6 Airs de Ballet
plate no. pages price
1 Danse villageoise H.4997 (1) 2–13 6f.
2 Pas des chasseurs H.4998(2) 2–9 5f.
3 Pantomime H.4999(3) 2–7 5f.
4 Valse-Mazurke H.5000(4) 2–11 6f.
5 Pas du Bouquet H.5001(5) 2–15 7f 50.
6 Bacchanale H.5002(6) 2–11 6f.

3 Transcriptions

1 Prélude de l’Esplanade H.5007(1) 2–11 6f.
2 Marche danoise H.5008(2) 2–7 5f.
3 Valse d’Ophélie H.5009(3) 2–9 5f.

Printed score, complete opera:
1
pl. no.:

H. 5007, except for the nine extracts which also carried their original plate numbers

pages:

1-353

date:

1869

ann.: Bibliographie de la France , 25-9-1869 @ 25 f.
note:

The Scène du bouquet on p. 264–83 has been revised.

copies:
2 Heugel, H. 5007, 351 p., 1883. US-SLp

Letters:
6-1868, Bizet to Galabert:
'Je suis abruti : je termine l’arrangement à 4 mains d’Hamlet !... Quelle besogne !'
Galabert, p. 140
6-1868, Bizet to 'Madame':
'Je termine la partition d’Hamlet à 4 mains. Quelle besogne !... Je suis mort de fatigue, d’ennui, de découragement, et de spleen ! Malgré ma mauvaise humeur, la musique de Thomas a quelquefois triomphé. C’est décidément admirable cet Hamlet, tout simplement.'
F-Pn n. a. fr. 14345, f. 350
27-5-1871, Bizet to Rodrigues:
'Hamlet is a great work which obliterates all the little musical weaknesses of this kind and honorable man.'
Curtiss, Musical Quarterly. 1950. p. 395
14-7-1871, Bizet to Thomas:
'Votre admirable Hamlet avait tellement rendu toute autre combinaison absolument impossible que les félicitations doivent vous sembler étranges.'
Sotheby’s, 11-1989
8-1871, Bizet to Mme Halévy:
'Thomas is grateful for my attitude at the opening of Hamlet, when the musicians were either too stupid or too malicious to do justice to this really admirable work and I went into such a rage that he heard about it.'
Curtiss, Musical Quarterly, 1950, p. 402
Bibliography:
  • Pigot (1886) 319
  • Pigot (1911) 282
  • Curtiss 196, 218-30, 291, 304-6, 312, 380-1, 397, 399
  • Dean 55
  • Wright 96
  • Lacombe 421, 423