Mazzarella AIVS Collection of Librettos
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Abstract
The Mazzarella AIVS Collection of Librettos is comprised of John D. Mazzarella's collection of librettos for operas performed throughout Italy, and in London, Paris, Barcelona, and New York City in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The librettos were published between 1815 and 1966.
Biographical Note
John D. Mazzarella served as Vice President and Eastern Manager of Community Concerts, a division of Columbia Artists Management, Inc. for thirty years. He also taught English at Bangkok Christian College for six years. Passionate about the arts and travel, Mazzarella was a long-time member of the American Institute of Verdi Studies. He died at the age of 71 in 2010.
Source:
John D. Mazzarella Obituary, The New York Times, August 28, 2010.
Historical Note
The American Institute for Verdi Studies (AIVS) is one of the world's top research centers for the study of the life and works of Giuseppe Verdi. The idea for the AIVS emerged out of increased interest in Verdi research following the Fourth International Congress of Verdi Studies in 1974. Planning for the Institute began in 1974, with performers, scholars, critics, librarians, and Verdi enthusiasts agreeing to serve as advisors to the new organization. Officially founded on April 1, 1976, the AIVS is open to public membership and is a division of the Music Department at New York University. The AIVS sponsors and promotes conferences, lectures, and performances, and publishes the only English-language journal dedicated to Verdi, the Verdi Forum.
The Institute has organized three international conferences on Verdi studies, and in October 2013, the AIVS sponsored Verdi's Third Century: Italian Opera Today, a conference at NYU to celebrate the bicentennial of Verdi's birth and the legacy of his work. The AIVS Archive is located at the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library at NYU.
Source:
"Our History and Mission." American Institute for Verdi Studies. http://www.nyu.edu/projects/verdi/AIVSbackground.html
Arrangement
The collection contains 63 series arranged alphabetically by composer. Within each series, librettos are arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Contents
The Mazzarella AIVS Collection of Librettos is comprised of librettos for operas performed throughout Italy, as well as London, Paris, Barcelona, and New York City, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The librettos were published between 1815 and 1966.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Mazzarella AIVS Collection of Librettos; MSS 383; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
The collection of librettos is a bequest of John D. Mazzarella, a former member of the American Institute for Verdi Studies. Mr. Mazzarella bequeathed his materials to the AIVS in 2010. Mr. Mazzarella had acquired most of the items in his collection over the course of many visits to Italy. The AIVS transferred the materials to Fales Library in 2012.
