Anne Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) Almost everybody with a name in the world of arts frequented Bounonville's home, which was famous for its hospitality. His wife Helene kept an album amicorum (a blank book in which autographs, drawings, poems, etc. from visitors of the house were collected). The album contains contributions from among others Hans Christian Andersen, Bertel Thorvaldsen and the composers Niels W Gade (quoting the Bridal Walz from "A Folk Tale") and J.P.E. Hartmann (quoting "The Valkyrie"), The album was exhibited at the Bournonville Festival in 2005 in Bournonville's own home in Fredensborg, and the unique book was shortly after aquired by the Royal Danish Library. It has been made accessible online on the homepage of the Royal Danish Library: Helene Bournonville's Album (follow the link with the words "Se stambogen her"). Of special interest for ballet fans are also two drawings by Edvard Lehmann which illustrate scenes from the Bournonville ballets "The Conservatoire" and "La Ventana". Edited January 19, 2017 by Anne Link to comment
sandik Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Aside from its dance-specific interest, I'm fascinated by this as a period practice. How many people still keep this kind of album, and how many people could sign with such elegant handwriting? Link to comment
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