Lalla Rukh, ein Festspiel mit Gesang und Tanz : Aufgefuhrt auf dem Konigl. Schlosse in Berlin am 27sten Januar 1821, bei der Anwesenheit I.I.K.K.H.H. des Grossfursten Nicolaus und der Grossfurstin Alexandra Feodorowna. Mit 23 colorirten Kupfern.

Karl Friedrich Schinkel; Karl Friedrich Moritz Paul Bruhl, Graf von; Samuel Heinrich Spiker; Heinrich Sturmer; August von Kloeber; Thomas Moore

Berlin : Bei Ludwig Wilhelm Wittich, 1822

[The Lost World of European Aristocracy: A Fantasy in Custom with Color Plates] 4to, 31 x 15 cm. Fine binding.  Bound in 1/2 crimson, polished morocco over burgundy boards, by Period Binders of Bath, England.  [vi], 28, 23 hand-colored lithographs by Laurens and Jugel after von Sturmer and von Klober, Folded plate at end, unnumbered.  

  An account of a pageant based on Thomas Moore's Lalla Rookh, with scenery and direction by K.F. Schinkel, costumes by Bruhl, music by G.L.P. Spondini and lyrics by Spiker.  Moore's Indian romance was first published in 1817 and organized into a musical show by the Prussian Court of Berlin to celebrate the visit of the Russian Crown Prince, later Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandria.  The whole court participated in the festival, with the dancers played by Russian and German aristocracy.   The role of Lalla Rukh was played by Crown Princess Alexandra.  The programme and decorations were by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, and the music by Gaspare Spontini, who later transformed it into a full-length opera. The costumes were designed by August von Klober, who drew the folding plate for this book. A French edition of the work was published by Wittich in the same year.  Contents: Contents: I. Beschreibung des Festes; II. Program bei dem Feste ausgetheilt; III. Gesänge zu dem Festspiele Lalla Rukh; IV. Beschreibung der Kostume.  

  Refs: Lipperheide: Kat. der Kostumbibl., Sbb25; Vinet 777.  

  This is an oversized or heavy book, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.