Hester Lynch Piozzi, “Letter to Hester Maria Thrale”

Performer Name:

Abate [Severino] Aurelio Bertola de Giorgi

Performance Venue:

Verona

Performance Date:

1786

Author:

Piozzi, Hester Lynch

Date Written:

1786

Language:

English

Publication Title:

 

Article Title:

Letter to Hester Maria Thrale

Page Numbers:

 

Additional Info:

Letter dated 27 September 1786.

Publisher:

 

Place of Publication:

 

Date Published:

 

Text:

The Countess Mosconinote (celebrated in your Florence Miscellany) made Mr Piozzi and I pass the first Evening we came at her Conversation; where Abate Bertola made Improviso Verses to my husband's Accompanyment, in a way quite different from the Tuscan Fashion-I will try to describe it. One Friend sits down to the Harpsichord, & three or four of the Company sing two Lines of any well known tune song in parts to a slow Tune by way of Chorus-for Example

Spargo in vano i miei lamenti,
Ni ritrovo il Caro Ben.

The Poet makes one, or two, or three Strophes expressive of his Search for the Lady, and when he wants Time for further Invention concludes with that part of the Air which corresponds to the first of these Lines, when the Chorus repeating 'em again forms the Rhyme, and gives him a temporary Suspension: I don't know whether you understand me, but I am sure that I could do it myself, so as to content a partial audience of Intimates by dint of familiarity with a Language I have now spoken so long. The worst is want of Voice; when they make Verses round a Table after Dinner, my Stuff seldom fails of being applauded-We had a great deal on't at Varese.

Notes:

Collected by:

AE