12/129 Nicole Freres - Keywound, Two per turn, Fat Cylinder Opera
Serial No. 32569 Gamme No. 1212; Circa 1855
Bought at auction April 2025
This mechanism has an exact twin to a box that belongs to another collector. His case lid has different marquetry.
See it in the workshop
This mechanism has an exact twin to a box that belongs to another collector. His case lid has different marquetry.
See it in the workshop
After restoration
Tunes:
The tunes are all from well known operas grouped in pairs by the same composer.
The tunes are all from well known operas grouped in pairs by the same composer.
Vincenzo Bellini
Norma is an Opera in two acts first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26th December 1831.
The opera is regarded as a leading example of the bel canto genre, and the soprano prayer "Casta diva" in Act 1 is a famous piece. Among the well known singers of Norma of the first half of the 20th century was Rosa Ponselle who played the role in New York and London. Notable exponents of the title role in the post-war period have been Maria Callas, Leyla Gencer, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé.
Norma is an Opera in two acts first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26th December 1831.
The opera is regarded as a leading example of the bel canto genre, and the soprano prayer "Casta diva" in Act 1 is a famous piece. Among the well known singers of Norma of the first half of the 20th century was Rosa Ponselle who played the role in New York and London. Notable exponents of the title role in the post-war period have been Maria Callas, Leyla Gencer, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé.
1. Me Protege No. 1 Norma
"Me protegge, me difende" means "I am protected, and defended". It is Pollione's cabaletta at the end of Act I, scene 1
"Me protegge, me difende" means "I am protected, and defended". It is Pollione's cabaletta at the end of Act I, scene 1
2. Hear me Norma Si fino
Also from the opera Norma, this time from Act 2, Scene 1, is the duet between Norma and Adalgisa "mira, O Norma ... Sì, fino all'ora estrema" in Act II, but the fact that an English title is given suggests that the arranger adapted the music from the English version with text by Charles Jefferys published in 1851. There are other versions based on the same music.
"Si fino all'ore estrema" means "Until the last hour"
Also from the opera Norma, this time from Act 2, Scene 1, is the duet between Norma and Adalgisa "mira, O Norma ... Sì, fino all'ora estrema" in Act II, but the fact that an English title is given suggests that the arranger adapted the music from the English version with text by Charles Jefferys published in 1851. There are other versions based on the same music.
"Si fino all'ore estrema" means "Until the last hour"
Gaetano Donizetti
3. Oh Summer Night Serenade This lullaby is the English version of "Com' è gentil la notte," Ernesto's Serenade from Act III (no. 12) from the comic opera Don Pasquale (1843), was first performed at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris in 1843. It was set to an Italian libretto and only later translated to French .
4. Marche de la fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) first preformed at the Opêra-comique in 1840
Probably the march from Act I in which the soldiers sing the refrain "Rataplan, rataplan, rataplan."
Probably the march from Act I in which the soldiers sing the refrain "Rataplan, rataplan, rataplan."
Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) is an opera semiseria in two acts based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime written by Eugène Scribe. The ballet premiered in Paris in September 1827 at the height of a fashion for stage works incorporating sonnambulism.
La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) is an opera semiseria in two acts based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime written by Eugène Scribe. The ballet premiered in Paris in September 1827 at the height of a fashion for stage works incorporating sonnambulism.
5. Perchè non posso Sonnambula "Perchè non posso odiarti" is Elvino's aria (with chorus) at the end of Act II, scene 1, of Bellini's La Sonnambula (1831) (Note the calligrapher's error in writing "Somnambula" rather than "Sonnambula." on the tune sheet)
6. Ah! non giunge Marche (Human thought cannot conceive of the happiness that fills me) is an aria finale expressing joy.
"Ah! non giunge uman pensiero" is Amina's aria in the finale of La Sonnambula. "Marche" in this case probably refers to the cabaletta section.
"Ah! non giunge uman pensiero" is Amina's aria in the finale of La Sonnambula. "Marche" in this case probably refers to the cabaletta section.
Daniel Auber
Les Diamants de la Couronne (The Crown Diamonds) 1841, is a comic opera first performed at the second Salle Favart in Paris on 6th March 1841. The plot concerns a Portuguese princess, Catrina, who intrigues with bandits after she is forced to sell the crown diamonds of the title.
Les Diamants de la Couronne (The Crown Diamonds) 1841, is a comic opera first performed at the second Salle Favart in Paris on 6th March 1841. The plot concerns a Portuguese princess, Catrina, who intrigues with bandits after she is forced to sell the crown diamonds of the title.
7. Finale des Diamans The opéra-comique Les Diamants de la couronne. The piece is probably the third act finale.
(Note incorrect spelling of Diamants on the tune sheet)
(Note incorrect spelling of Diamants on the tune sheet)
Frédéric Bérat
His best known work is Ma Normandie, the official anthem of the Bailiwick of Jersey
His best known work is Ma Normandie, the official anthem of the Bailiwick of Jersey
8. Quand je quittais ma Normandie. This must surely be a reference to "Ma Normandie," the unofficial national anthem of Normandy, written and composed in 1836. "Quand je quittais ma Normandie" doesn't actually appear in the text, but it recalls the spirit of the text.
Vincenzo Bellini
I Puritani by Bellini (1835) is an opera in three acts based on Têtes Rondes et Cavaliers (Roundheads & Cavaliers) a historical play set int the English Civil War.
I Puritani by Bellini (1835) is an opera in three acts based on Têtes Rondes et Cavaliers (Roundheads & Cavaliers) a historical play set int the English Civil War.
9. Suoni la Tromba Marche Puritani [not "trombe" as on the tune sheet] is the duet between Giorgio and Riccardo in the finale of Act II. "Suoni la Tromba" was recognised by the Italian revolutionaries as a "hymn of liberty" (as Bellini described it) during the political unrest of the period.
Note: Bellini's name is omitted as composer on the tune sheet.
Note: Bellini's name is omitted as composer on the tune sheet.
10. Son Vergin Vezzosa is Elvira's aria (in polacco style) in Act I.
Note: Bellini's name is omitted as composer on the tune sheet.
Note: Bellini's name is omitted as composer on the tune sheet.
Gioachino Rossini
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), written in 1816, is a comic opera in two acts which is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music, and has been described as the "opera buffa of all opera buffa".
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), written in 1816, is a comic opera in two acts which is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music, and has been described as the "opera buffa of all opera buffa".
11. Largo all Factotum Barbiere is Figaro's famous aria in Act I
12. Zitti Zitti Piano Piano is the trio of the Count, Rosina, and Figaro in Act II which is one of the final songs when the lovers sing about trying to sneak out of Bartolo's house.