MARIO GIOVANNI MATTEO: (1810-1883) Giovanni Matteo di Candia, also known as Mario. Italian opera Singer and nobleman. The most celebrated tenor of his era. He was the partner of opera singer Giulia Grisi. Mario performed several important premieres such as the Rossini´s Stabat Mater. Scarce A.L.S., `G.Mario´, four pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to Banesi, in Italian. A lengthy and interesting letter by Mario referring to his health and to his next future performances calendar, stating in part `Il mio stato di salute non e buono… continua il suo lento e orribile Corso… benchi spero saro molto meglio…. Di poter cantare gli Ugonotti sabbato…´ (''My state of health is not good… it continues its slow and horrible course… although I hope I will be much better…. to be able to sing the Huguenots on Saturday..'') further referring to the possibility of not being able to sing the Faust `…nell´impossibilita di non poter cantare nel Faust..´(''…in the impossibility of not being able to sing in the Faust..''), further again and referring to critics, to one his soprano partners and to recent performances states `..il quale la trova troppo fredda e nulla per prendere un role della Lucia… pero dicendomi e assicurandomi che avevo fatto fiasco in Faust, vorrei non far fiasco in altro..´ (''.. who is finding her too cold and naught to take the role of Lucia ... but telling me and assuring me that I had failed in Faust, I would not like to fail in another..'') VG