T30

Thomas, Hamlet

opéra en cinq actes

piano solo
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. Bizet did not have to transcribe passages without voices since these had already been arranged by Vauthrot for the vocal score.
Autograph fragments: S-Smf MMS 327. 12-stave paper, 230 x 301 mm., 8 f. (p. 16–17 and 25–36). The manuscript comprises 28 bars in A major from no. 1 (bars 126–53), and the whole of nos 2 and 3. For passages where there are no voices, Bizet has pasted in pages of the printed vocal score.
Printed score:
1
pl. no.:

H. 4962

pages:

title page, blank, catalogues (3 p.), music 1-227

date:

5-1868

ann.:

Le Ménestrel 13-5-1868 and 17-5-1868, Revue et gazette musicale 31-5-1868, Bibliographie de la France 20-6-1868 @ 12f.

copies:
2Sonzogno, Milan, 227 p. I-Mc.

Printed score, extracts:
  • 1

    La Fête de printemps, ballet. Heugel, 40 p. US-Wc.

  • 2

    Marche solennelle. Heugel, 14 p. US-BEm, US-Wc.


Letters:

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) 124, 319
  • Pigot (1911) 112, 282
  • Dean 55
  • Wright 35, 54, 66, 69, 345
  • Lacombe 421