Rare autograph by Pauline Viardot
Letters by Swedish singer Jenny Lind that were thought to be lost and a rare autograph by Pauline Viardot have recently been added to the archive of the Research Center for Music and Gender (fmg) at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
The archive of source material on women active in music culture will be supplemented by 34 letters from the singer Jenny Lind from the years 1850 to 1874 and a transcript of the song "Chanson d'autrefois" by the singer, pianist, singing teacher and composer Pauline Viardot from the estate of Maria Callas. The acquisition, with a total value of 18,000 euros, was made possible by the Mariann Steegmann Foundation.
Until now, only a copy of the setting of a text by Victor Hugo, which also appeared in print at the end of the 19th century, had survived in a foreign hand. The fact that an autograph by the composer is now available and could be acquired by the fmg can therefore be described as a particular stroke of luck. Another highlight is the provenance of the copy: It comes from the estate of one of the most important sopranos of the 20th century: Maria Callas.
