BEETHOVEN’S FOUR ARIETTAS AND A DUET, 1811 FIRST EDITION

BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van. Vier Arietten und ein Duett (italienisch und deutsch) mit Begleitung des Pianoforte in Musik Gestetzt von L. v. Beethoven. (Der unterlegte deutsche Text ist von Dr. Chr. Schrieber). Op. 82. Leipzig: Brietkopf und Härtel, [1811]. Oblong folio, modern paper wrappers; pp. 16. $2500.

First edition of this collection of five songs, fully engraved.

Beethoven composed the music for these songs in 1809. The author of the first arietta (“Dimmi, ben mio”) is unknown; the remaining three ariettas and the duet were written by the renowned Italian librettist Pietro Metastasio: “his librettos were set over 800 times by different composers during the 18th and early 19th centuries and acquired a reputation unmatched in the history of opera” (New Grove, 12: 215). The duet, “Odi l’aura, che dolce sospira,” for Soprano and Tenor, was probably sketched in part while Beethoven was studying with Antonio Salieri, circa 1800. The original Italian lyrics were here translated into German by Dr. Christian Schreiber (1781-1857), a distinguished theologian and an associate of publisher Härtel. “Like Op. 75, the five Italian songs published together as Op. 82 by Breitkopf & Härtel in July 1811 were published by Clementi [in London] singly and without opus number. They were all entered at Stationers Hall on February 1, 1811” (Tyson, 84). German music seller’s ink-stamp to title page.

A clean, fresh copy in fine condition.