MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, FELIX

Autographed letter signed ("Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy"), one page, Berlin, July 20, 1832, in German. The German composer (1809-1847) writes to Aloys Fuchs regarding his failed attempts to acquire a Handel manuscript, "even through an exchange against the one of Beethoven," which belongs to a private collector who will not sell it for any price. He sends a request to the musicologist and collector to inspect a piano that is to be sent to him from Graf, and to select the best among his collection. He also asks Fuchs about a letter in his possession by Righini, as he has in his possession a requiem by Vincenzo Righini. This is among a series of letters from Mendelssohn to the musicologist and collector, Aloys Fuchs, regarding the collecting of musical manuscripts. "Fuchs counted Mendelssohn's friendship among the greatest honours and treasures of his life. Mendelssohn, who made his acquaintance during his sojourn in Vienna un August, 1830, inspected Fuch's collection with great interest at that time, and volunteered to help with it to the best of his ability. The enriching of this collection through manuscripts or portraits is the main theme of the correspondence we have before us." (Mendelssohn and His World, edited by R. Larry Todd, 1991, p. 277, the present letter transcribed on pp. 286-287). Conrad Graf was the most celebrated piano manufacturer in Vienna of his time and was the royal piano manufacturer.