Title: Miklos Rozsa Collection of Rare Letters
Collection no: 329
Description: Miklos Rozsa's 123-piece collection of rare letters, documents, photographs and manuscripts spanning three centuries of musical history. Most of the correspondence relates to the composition, performance and business of music, including a Claude Debussy 1899 missive about re-arranging a meeting with his publisher, and Liszt's 1880 letter about going to Budapest to teach. Other writings deal with the mundane realities of daily life. Recurrent themes include the payment of debts (Liszt, 1853: "accept the repayment of my small debt, 8 Thaler, 18 gr."), the climate (Puccini, 1913: "My dear chap...Milan is terrible in winter and impossible in summer") and social amenities (Sergei Rachmaninov, 1906: "Birthday greettings to Nina Kushetz." Most of the letters in the collection were handwritten, though some of the more recent ones were typed. In a 1949 letter, which Rozsa said was his favorite, Richard Strauss attempts - in German - to explain to actor Lionel Barrymore the nature of his relationship with the Nazi party. Other items range from Tchaikovsky's apology, dated 1889, for being a tardy correspondent, which bears his large inked signature, to a faded typed message from Marc-Antoine Charpentier, dated Paris, 1932, regarding the broadcast of his "Poemes chantes" over Radio Paris. In addition to writings by musicians, the collection contains letters from several heads of state who were musical patrons. Included are a 1666 message from Leopold I of Hungary and a 1670 letter from France's Louis XIV. Also in the collection is a simple pencil drawing by Liszt - a rear view of a tousle-haired conductor. Rosza collected these notes and letters over the course of a lifetime. Some he bought at auctions; others he received as gifts. But all are special: Brahms' calling card with a brief note about a cantata, a few hastily scribbled bars of music in Richard Wagner's hand, a sentimental inscription to Rozsa from conductor Bruno Walter.
Extent: 2 linear feet
Library: Special Collections
Formats: Manuscripts
Topics: History, Western Europe, Music
Use of this collection is by appointment only. Please contact:
- Name: Claude Zachary
- Title: University Archivist, Manuscripts Librarian
- Email: czachary@usc.edu
- Phone: 213-740-2587
- Fax: 213-740-2343
