Mercedes Viale Ferrero’s book collection and archive: a first survey

Abstract

Gabriella Olivero

Mercedes Viale Ferrero’s book collection and archive: a first survey.

Mercedes Viale Ferrero was an art and music historian. Her estate has recently made her book collection and archive accessible to scholars for consultation. A full description is not possible yet; this essay focuses on two of its sections, both typical of her scholarly method, always taking original documents as a starting point. The first section is her opera libretto collection, consisting of about five hundred items dating from the 17^th century to the late 20^th century. A complete catalog is in the appendices. Items discussed are: (1) the oldest ones (17^th–18^th century); (2) those associated with premières and including a performers’ list; (3) those related to stagings in non-institutional venues, either private or conceived for special occasions; and (4) those displaying some significant element in their imagery or other. The second section is Genoese musician Girolamo Costa’s correspondence with noted colleagues and composers (Carlos Gomes, Carlo Pedrotti, Giuseppe Villani, Camillo Sivori). It consists of twenty-one letters and cards, plus a telegram from Giulio Ricordi. These items are unissued and are described here for the first time.