Wilhelm Ganz MSS

Correspondence and papers, 1851-1950, of composer, conductor and pianist Wilhelm Ganz, together with correspondence and papers of members of his family, including letters, 1876-1913, to Ganz from Adelina Patti and other contemporary singers and musicians, and an album of signatures presented to Ganz on the occasion of a Diamond Jubilee Concert in his honour held on 26 May 1908.

Wilhelm Ganz, composer, conductor and pianist, was the son of Adolph Ganz, Kapellmeister at the Opera at Mainz. He came to London as a boy in 1848. He became Professor of Singing at the Guildhall School of Music and was accompanist to the celebrated Spanish soprano Adelina Patti (1843-1919), who in 1878 took up residence at Craig-y-nos Castle in Breconshire.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 23351-23356.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Sotheby's; London; Purchased at auction, lots 217 and 367; 26 May 1994

Wilhelm Ganz, composer, conductor and pianist, was the son of Adolph Ganz, Kapellmeister at the Opera at Mainz. He came to London as a boy in 1848. He became Professor of Singing at the Guildhall School of Music and was accompanist to the celebrated Spanish soprano Adelina Patti (1843-1919), who in 1878 took up residence at Craig-y-nos Castle in Breconshire.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IX (Aberystwyth, 2003); Hector Berlioz online site (viewed 6 April 2009)

Title based on contents.

April 2009.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifans for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS.

Usual copyright laws apply.

Concert programmes and other miscellaneous items included in the purchase are NLW ex 1654. Photographs and postcards, including an early photograph of Madame Patti inscribed by her 'Adelina Patti 1859 in first performance of Traviata', are now to be found in NLW Photo Album 1985. Family letters, 1852-1854, of Wilhelm Ganz are located in the British Library's Music Collection.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales