F. Lucca

Contents

History

Lucca of Milan was active from 1840 to 1888.

Francesco Lucca (1802-1872) was an apprentice under G. Ricordi for 6 years; when he returned to Italy after travelling from 1822-1825, he started an engraving workshop in Milan in 1825. The earliest samples were much admired for their clarity and accuracy. Near the end of 1841, he returned to Ricordi to work opposite La Scala; in January of that year he had announced that he had the reproduction and transfer rights to Donizetti's Adelia and La favorita. He then took over a part of the agency for Nabucco with Ricordi. Lucca brought out several subsequent operas of Verdi, including Il corsaro, Attila, and I masnadieri, but Verdi moved to Ricordi after a quarrel, which generated tension between the two firms. in 1840, Lucca had gotten Der Freischutz, and had it translated under the title "Il magico bersagliere." Lucca had success with operas by Mercadante, Pacini, and others. Lucca printed these using treble and bass clefs only, for the first time.

His wife Giovannina Strazza (1814?-1894) joined the business around 1850, and acquired the rights for Italy of Gounod's Faust, and other major works. In 1868, she purchased the exclusive Italian rights for the entirety of Wagner's works. After Francesco's death, she took over the firm entirely. Major expansions caused Verdi to advise Ricordi to acquire Lucca, which they did in 1888, at a price of 1,000,000 Lire. This expanded Ricordi much, giving them around 47,800 new titles.

Important acquisitions

  • 1871 and 1875: Berletti
  • 1874: De Giorgi
  • 1878: Canti
  • 1886: Vismara

Editions

Plate Numbers

Plate Composer Work Year
03470 Thalberg Introduction et variations sur la barcarolle de l'opéra 'L'elisir d'amore', Op.66 1850
04097 Labitzky Lucian-Walzer, Op.75 (for piano solo)
04169 Labitzky Springsfeld-Galopps, Op.4 (for piano solo)
05252 Labitzky Das morgenland, Op.109 (for piano solo)
05254 Labitzky Bedford-Walzer, Op.108 (for piano solo)
09493 Godefroid 6 Morceaux de genre, Opp.46-51 (No.3)
10723 Godefroid Les soupirs, Op.35
11270–88 Petrella Jone (vocal score) 1862
11510 Rossini La separazione
12379–94 Peri Vittore Pisani (vocal score) 1858
12796 Brida Sinfonia religiosa
12839 Ravina Romance sans Paroles, Op.27 1850
14957 Brida Due canzoni
15732 Bassi Divertimento sopra motivi dell’opera La favorita di Donizetti 1852
16759 Brida Povero fiore!!
18201–25 Marchetti Ruy Blas (vocal score) 1869?
18584 Brida Io di te non so che far
19299 Brida La ricordi?
20303 Meglio Piano Trio, Op.140 (sc&pts) 1860?
21050 Gariboldi Capriccio sull'opera 'Ruy Blas' di F. Marchetti 1869?
23297 Paisiello 3 Tantum ergo (vocal score reduced by G. Nava) 1876
24763 Perosi Versetti brillanti e fugati per Organo
25795 Chiappani Cuor sincero, polka 1878
26083 Bottagisio Carezze del pensiero 1880
26084 Bottagisio Alba e crepuscolo (sc/pt) 1880
26241 Daddi Il lamento 1878
36486 Levy Fantasia Brillante sull'opera Il Guarany, Op.2
38336 Itiberê Sérénade pour piano, Op.34 1882
34775 Bottagisio Fanciulla, che cosa è Dio? per Mezzo-Soprano e Pianoforte 1879
34862 Bottagisio Una marina in sull'alba per Pianoforte
35404 Bottagisio Tu m'amerai così? Canzone per Soprano o Mezzo-Soprano e Pianoforte 1880
35417 Bottagisio Marcia Funebre per Pianoforte
36362 Bottagisio Un saluto dalle nubi Preludio per Pianoforte 1882
36791 Bottagisio Fiori del prato per Pianoforte
37368 Bottagisio Sorriso d'amore Mazurka per Pianoforte 1883
38942 Scognamiglio T'arrienne o no?...
46819 Goldmark Merlin 1886

IMSLP Entries

Plate #Full PlateComposerWorkIMSLP #Full YearYear

Sources Consulted

  • 1. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie.
New York and London: Macmillan Publications, 1980.
  • 2. Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. 2., neu bearb. Ausg. ed. Ludwig Finscher.
Kassel: Bärenreiter, Stuttgart: Metzler 2006. Personenteil Bd. 11, S. 541-543

Authority control

VIAF (Stabilimento musicale di F. Lucca)