Lot 326

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Description:

Sigismond Thalberg AMQS in E Flat Major: He Was a Musical Prodigy & Liszt's Rival

A Victorian scrapbook album page entirely engrossed by Swiss composer and virtuous pianist Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871), comprised of an autograph musical quotation signed as "S. Thalberg." Signed in Boston, Massachusetts on April 14, 1857. Above his signature, Thalberg has inscribed four measures of music from an unidentified composition in E Flat Major and 3/4 time. The leaf is uniformly toned overall, with isolated edge darkening and a few scattered chips to the bottom edge. Minor mounting traces verso, else very good to near fine. 8.5" x 11.25."

Thalberg showed extraordinary technical skill at an early age, giving his first public piano performance as a teenager in London in 1826. Thalberg received mixed reviews from his contemporaries. Chief rival and Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt maintained an uneasy, love-hate relationship with Thalberg, while Polish pianist Frédéric Chopin thought Thalberg played well enough but was a superficial dandy and libertine. German pianists Clara and Robert Schumann exalted in Thalberg's skill. In a review in 1839, Schumann wrote about Thalberg: "He is a God when sitting at the piano."

Thalberg signed this musical autograph during his triumphant first season touring North America between early October 1856 and late July 1857. For eight months of this first season, Thalberg typically performed 5 to 6 times a week, performing selections from his own composition or chamber music by other artists like Bach, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Chopin. Thalberg's two tours in the United States and Canada in the late 1850s garnered him considerable wealth, recognition, and popularity.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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April 14, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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