Support the return of Godebski’s bust of Rossini to Halle!
Gioachino Rossini by Cyprien Godebski, 1865
Servais, Rossini’s Paganini of the Cello
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) composed one successful opera after another at a young age. He later settled in Paris. The Halle cellist François Servais (1807-1866) had a boundless admiration for Rossini. This led to adaptions of his famous opera themes: early on, Servais already composed variations on Le Comte Ory and on Il Barbiere di Siviglia. On his part Rossini also had a strong admiration for Servais. They met for the first time in Paris in 1861. Accompanied by the maestro, Servais played the former’s new Une Larme. Rossini reportedly said at the time that, since Paganini, he had not been moved more by a musician than by Servais. A few weeks later Rossini wrote to the London conductor Julius Benedict “Servais che io riguardo come il Paganini del violoncello” – “I consider Servais as the Paganini of the cello”.
Rossini medallion by Godebski, Villa Servais Halle
Villa Servais in Halle (Belgium)
In 1847 Servais had a beautiful villa built in his birthplace Halle, about 15 kilometres off Brussels. Forty years later the family entertained artist friends there such as Franz Liszt, Henry Vieuxtemps and Anton Rubinstein. The Villa Servais is currently being restored and will regain its former functions as of 2022: an inspiring place for cultural activities and accommodation.
Servais by Godebski, Market square Halle
Godebski and Rossini
Statues of the Polish-French sculptor Cyprien Godebski (1835-1909) can be found across the world. One of his most famous works has stood on the market square of Halle since 1871: the statue of François Servais. In 1864 Godebski sojourned at the Villa Servais. He made a series of bas reliefs for its façade; one of those medallions represents Rossini. In 1865 Godebski married Servais’s oldest daughter Sophie. They became the parents of Misia. In that same year of 1865 Godebski crafted a bust of Rossini, in Carrara marble, with a height of 54 cm. That bust is now for sale and could return to the place where it was created 155 years ago: the Villa Servais.
the distinguished sculptor Mr. Godebsky who made my bust […]
is the spouse (since short) of the daughter of one of my friends,
the great artist, the Paganini of the cello, Mr. Servais
(Rossini to Guglielmo Castellani in Rome, 6 May 1865)
Your support: bring Rossini’s bust back to Halle!
The bust of Rossini is a beautiful piece by Godebski and goes with no place better than with the former home of Rossini’s Paganini of the cello, Servais. That way many art lovers will be able to enjoy it. In order to make that possible, the Servais Society is looking for 35,000 euro. Check below the various possibilities of supporting this project.
You can support this project by a donation or by one of the following packages:
“plaster” – € 100 or more
As a thank you, you will receive
- a publication of your choice from www.servais-vzw.org/en/servais-vzw/publicaties
- if desired: your name and/or logo on the website and on the programmes of the Servais Society in 2021
“terracotta” – € 500 or more
As a thank you, you will receive
- a publication of your choice from www.servais-vzw.org/en/servais-vzw/publicaties
- if desired: your name and/or logo on the website and on the programmes of the Servais Society in 2021
- Voucher for 1 night for 2 people in Villa Servais during lead time
Or voucher for 2 nights for 2 people in Villa Servais after lead time with a 50% discount
Or voucher with a 50% discount for the purchase of a box with 6 bottles of champagne ‘Villa Servais’ 2021
“granite” – € 1000 or more
As a thank you, you will receive
- a publication of your choice from www.servais-vzw.org/en/servais-vzw/publicaties
- if desired: your name and/or logo on the website and on the programmes of the Servais Society in 2021
- Voucher for 1 night for 2 people in Villa Servais during lead time
Or voucher for 2 nights for 2 people in Villa Servais after lead time with a 50% discount
Or voucher with a 50% discount for the purchase of a box with 6 bottles of champagne ‘Villa Servais’ 2021 - VIP-Voucher for 4 people to attend a concert in Villa Servais
- Free guided tour ‘Servais in Halle’
“Carrara” – € 2500 or more
As a thank you, you will receive
- a publication of your choice from www.servais-vzw.org/en/servais-vzw/publicaties
- if desired: your name and/or logo on the website and on the programmes of the Servais Society in 2021
- Voucher for 1 night for 2 people in Villa Servais during lead time
Or voucher for 2 nights for 2 people in Villa Servais after lead time with a 50% discount
Or voucher with a 50% discount for the purchase of a box with 6 bottles of champagne ‘Villa Servais’ 2021 - VIP-Voucher for 4 people to attend a concert in Villa Servais
- Free guided tour ‘Servais in Halle’
- Voucher for free use of the ‘Salle de musique’ in the Villa Servais on an evening in 2022 (use by arrangement)
You can subscribe by using the form beneath. You will receive an automatic reply with the bank account information.
Our heartfelt thanks to our donors (30/12/2020):
Carrara
Rotary Club Halle
Robberechts-Vyncke
Villa Servais
Granite
Reto Müller, Basel (CH)
Sergio Ragni and Luigi Cuoco, Napels (IT)
Karin Van Snick, Halle
Terracotta
Koen Clement, Groot-Bijgaarden
Piet en Greet Clement-Van Malderen, Duggingen (CH)
Marc & Liliane Danneels-Martens, Halle
Guido & Linda François-Fonteyne, Halle
Brigitte Kaziur, Oberursel (D)
Franz Schareina, Germering (D)
Streekgidsen Pajottenland & Zennevallei
Francis en Annie Van Rossum – Wauters, Halle
Roger en Bernadette Vanvolsem-Denoyelle
Plaster
Greta Boon, in memory of Jan Boon
Othmar Bühler, Stettlen (CH)
Karin en Jean-Claude Coppieters ‘t Wallant
Freddy en Annemie Dehaen-Roels
René Delporte, Sart-Lez-Spa
Marcus De Schepper, Mechelen
Martin De Vroe, Alsemberg
Christian Huber, Hofstetten (CH)
Mart Janzegers, Saintes
Jacques Kleverlaan, Amsterdam
Katharina Metzner, Gernsbach (D)
Dorothée Pawlutschenko Desaegher
Martin Prchal, Utrecht (NL)
Dirk Rutenhofer, Dortmund (D)
Claus-Artur Scheier, Braunschweig (D)
Linda Smismans, Halle
Marc Snoeck, burgemeester Stad Halle
Stichting Cellosonate Nederland, Amsterdam (NL)
Rosemarie Teufel, Stuttgart (D)
Familie Vandenplas-Petit, Lembeek
Leo en Jeannine Vander Elst-Saegeman, Buizingen
André en Myriam Vandoren-Deceuninck, Halle
Dhr en Mevr Werner van Krunkelsven – Verlinden
Peter Volk, Freiburg (D)
Dieter und Elke Wallat, Rodgau (D)
Dorothee Wehofsits, Freiburg (D)
Miek en Wilfried Westerlinck-Maes
Walter Wiertz, Aachen
Christa Wuttig, München (D)
Norbert Zeller, Hilden (D)
Free gift
Canossa-medical Halle
Ignaas-Paul Lindemans, Halle
Fifty-One International, Serviceclub Halle
Marie-Josée Peetroons, Halle
Dirk Pieters, Halle