Correspondence

4772.5. EBB to Kate Field

Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 28.

[Florence]

[ca. 5 November 1860] [1]

My dear Kate, will you tell me who is the best singing-master (to your mind) in this Florence, & what his terms are at lowest; if an engagement is made by the quarter. My husband says, “Not Romani”– [2] Who then? And do you know Aretini’s terms for Italian? [3] Dear, be so good to me as to let me know this by a word, which the servant will call for presently.

Your ever affecationate

EBB.

Capua taken!—they say. [4]

Address, on integral page: Miss Field.

Publication: None traced.

Source: Transcript in editors’ file.

1. Dated by EBB’s reference to the fall of Capua (see note 4 below).

2. Pietro Romani (1781–1877), celebrated music professor.

3. P[ietro]. Aretini, Lung’arno, No. 1198, is well recommended: … The charge of the best masters is 3 francs a lesson, or 30 francs a month for 3 lessons a week” (Murray’s Handbook of Florence, 1861, p. vii).

4. Capua surrendered to the Italian army on 2 November 1860.

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