ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868)

ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian composer of operas. D.S., Gioachino Rossini, two pages, 4to (onion skin paper), Paris, 15 th March 1866, in Italian. The partially printed document bears the heading ‘Alla Prefettura della Provincia di Milano’ (Translation: ‘To the Prefecture of the Province of Milan’ and relates to Rossini’s opera Otello, the composer acknowledging that he is the true author of the work, the printed text stating ‘Gioachimo Rossini intendendo riservarsi formalmente i diritti spettanti agli autori delle opere dell'ingegno a norma della legge 25 giugno 1865 presenta N.3 esemplari dell'opera sottodistinta pubblicata per cura del R. Stabilimento Ricordi in Milano, ed unisce la ricevuta della tassa pagata in lire nove’ (Translation: ‘Gioachimo Rossini intending to formally reserve the rights due to the authors of intellectual works in accordance with the law of 25 June 1865, he presents 3 copies of the work listed below published by the Ricordi Establishment in Milan, and attaches the receipt of the tax paid in nine lire’), with the name of the opera listed in the table beneath, along with the year of its premiere, 1816. Beneath Rossini’s signature appears an autograph statement signed by a public official in which he attests to having received three copies of Rossini’s work. A similar signed statement appears to the verso dated at Florence, 1 st May 1866. With a pale violet Revenue stamp affixed to the upper left corner of the first page and two official circular ink stamps to recto and verso. Some ink show through owing to the nature of the paper. VG Otello, Rossini’s three-act opera inspired by William Shakespeare’s play Othello, premiered at the Teatro del Fondo in Naples on 4th December 1816.