Books and Manuscripts

Paris: Choudens, (1874). First edition. 4to. 25 pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by Georges Bizet to French composer Jules Massenet on title-page: "To the author of Marie-Magdeleine/with all my admiration and all my heart/George Bizet"; additionally signed by Bizet on front wrapper: "Monsieur Massenet/38, rue Malesherbes". Original printed limp green wrappers, front and rear wrappers detached; extremities worn and chipped, repairs along same; toned; dampstaining to front and rear wrappers. Title-page detached, dampstained, extremities worn, Bizet's inscription slightly affected by damp; dampstaining in all leaves.

In the winter of 1874 French conductor Jules Étienne Pasdeloup (1819-1887) asked George Bizet (1838-75), Jules Massenet (1842-1912), and Ernest Guiraud (1837-92) to each write an overture to be performed at his Concerts Populaires. Massenet composed an Overture to "Phedre", while Guiraud wrote Artevelde, and Bizet wrote this overture, Patrie, and dedicated it to Massenet, his friend. The play, whose themes are drawn from Act V of his uncompleted opera Don Rodrigue, is a musical testimonial of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. It was an instant success when first performed on February 15, 1874, and afterwards Bizet turned his full attention to writing Carmen.

In 2008 we sold a copy of the Grand Orchestra score, with a less effusive inscription to Massanet.