“Literary and Scientific Intelligence, Foreign and Domestic (Great Britain)”
Performances in Paris by the Italian improvisatore Pistrucci are a hot topic of discussion in London.
Tag: Pistrucci
Carlo Tedaldi Jores, “All’editore dello Spettatore”
In a letter to the editor, the writer describes how the 16-year-old Taddei was inspired, by listening to Pistrucci, to commit herself to improvised verse. Her performance and her verses resemble the enthusiasm of the Pythia, without being exaggerated. However, the writer reports that at a performance she gave near Cremona, ignorant listeners criticized improvised poetry and the innocent pleasures it arouses as pure folly.
F. S. [F. Salfi?], “Improvisations italiennes”
The author describes two improvised performances, one by Giannone, and the other by Pistrucci, very favourably, expressing admiration for the talent of the improvisatori as well as their patriotism.
F. S. [F. Salfi?], “Poésie italienne. — Improvisation”
The author notes that a performance by the improvisatore Pistrucci was deservedly successful, but remarks that the Italian art of declamation could be much improved if it were pursued more seriously, following the example of the French.
Frances Williams Wynn, Diaries of a Lady of Quality
Wynn describes her dissatisfaction with Gabriele Rossetti’s improvisation and recalls Spinetto’s high estimation of improvisatori, including Corilla and Taddei. Wynn also comments on the relative difficulty of improvisation in different languages.
Jane Carlyle, The Carlyle Letters Online
Two letters from Jane Carlyle, which recount (somewhat disparagingly) humorous episodes of improvised, or purportedly improvised, performances by Pistrucci, Rossetti, and Pepoli. A note to another letter mentions that Pistrucci was nicknamed Heraclitus.
O. L. B. Wolff, “Improvisation, Improvisatoren, Improvisiren”
In an encyclopedia entry on improvisers and improvisation, Wolff provides a discussion of the relation between the development of the art of improvisation and the geography and spirit of each nation. He also provides a brief history of improvisation and mentions some of the most important contemporary improvisers.
Thomas Carlyle, The Carlyle Letters Online
Two excerpts from Thomas Carlyle’s letters which mention improvisatori: in the first, he mentions a performance by Pistrucci, an Italian, and in the second he recounts seeing a performance by Madam Lyser from Germany. Both are treated as strange (and rather naive) foreign curiosities.