Toscanini, Arturo--Wagner, Cosima

regarding a recent performance of Tristan and Isolde in Milan, given by Toscanini and attended by Cosima's son, who spoke so highly of it that she feels it her duty to express her happiness that such a large and difficult work has been executed with care on a foreign stage, conveying her son's admiration for the meticulous zeal of the rehearsals and their excellent results, and his view that the singers knew their rôles perfectly and delivered them with passion and enthusiasm, describing his satisfaction with the sets owing to the talent of Mr. Fortuny [Italo-Spanish designer] and his praise for the lively intelligence of the audience ("l'attention recueillie et l'animation compréhensive du public"); she states that these signs of respect and instinct for the incomparable work to which Toscanini dedicated himself with so much ardour made her son very happy to have been a witness, and at a distance she joins in his satisfaction, requesting that he relay her feelings to the cast and receive her congratulations

3 pages, octavo (17 x 13cms), some browning and tearing along folds

Sachs: 1978, pp. 75-76

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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The performance of Tristan und Isolde referred to in this letter took place on 12 January 1901, part of Toscanini's third season as principal conductor at La Scala. It was an enormous success, garnering international praise for the quality of the performances and the technical innovation of the staging (see 10 February edition of the New York Times). For Toscanini, who deliberately avoided meeting Cosima two years earlier at Bayreuth "because she was like a Queen", the sentiments expressed in this letter must have been praise indeed.