PATTI (Adelina, 1843-1919, Italian Soprano)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed in her married name ‘Adelina Patti Cederström’ to Mrs Branfill telling her that “we are leaving here tomorrow for London en route to Oberammagau to see the Passion Play and then to Stockholm, where I am going to give a concert for the benefit of the poor, under the patronage of the Queen of Sweden - we expect to return to England about the beginning of October, as my Autumn Concert tour commences on the 18th of that month in London at the Albert Hall. Therefore dearest, I regret to say that we shall have to postpone our meeting for another occasion, which I hope will be very soon - with love to all, and a secret kiss to my Godchild, in tearing haste...” with a postscript sending the Baron’s love, 4 sides 8vo.,with original autograph enveloe, Craig-Y-Nos Castle, Breconshire, South Wales headed paper, printed in red with her monogram, 6th September

Patti's last marriage, in 1899, was to Baron Rolf Cederström (1870–1947), a priggish, but handsome, Swedish aristocrat many years her junior. The Baron severely curtailed Patti's social life. He cut down her domestic staff from 40 to 18, but gave her the devotion and flattery that she needed, becoming her sole legatee. After her death, he married a much younger woman. Their only daughter, Brita Yvonne Cederström (born 1924), ended up as Patti's sole heir. In her retirement, Patti, now officially Baroness Cederström, settled in the Swansea Valley in Wales, where she purchased Craig-y-Nos Castle. There she had a $2000 billiard table installed, and her own private theatre, a miniature version of the one at Bayreuth, and made her gramophone recordings.
It would seem likely that the correspondent is Gwladis Gwendoline Miers Branfill the mother of Adelina Mawde Aylett Branfill (1894-1954) who was born in 1894 in Breconshire. The address is only 14 miles from Craig-y-nos.

Item Date:  1900

Stock No:  42506      £275

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