Group lot of five ALSs in French from esteemed Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saens, signed “C. Saint-Saens” or “C. St. S.,” total of 11 handwritten pages, with selected passages as follows (partially translated):
April 23, 1892, addressed to Madame Duvernoy, ostensibly singer and painter Marianne Viardot, the wife of French pianist and composer Alphonse Duvernoy: “Bear you a grudge? That would truly be impossible for me; and in any case it wouldn’t be for an epistolary matter, I have too many similar misdemeanors on my conscience. When someone doesn’t write to me, I conclude that he hasn’t had time, and that’s the end of it. I have learned with great pleasure of the performance and the success of a Sardanapale which I suppose must interest you; let’s hope that this won't be the last we hear of it. Today one only arrives in Paris via the provinces and foreign countries, which is deplorable, but it’s something we just have to accept.”
March 19, 1919: “I have started working again which caused my correspondence to lapse.” Saint-Saens notes that he has completed a composition for organ and orchestra entitled Cypres and Lauriers, “The title indicates sufficiently its nature. This is scheduled to be performed on July 11 at the Casino of Ostende in the presence of their Majesties, the King and Queen of Belgium.”
July 1st, no year: “I took the opportunity of a moment of tranquility in Vieppre to reset with two hands the Final of the ‘Suite Algerienne.’ I think it will be quite masculine.”
December 11, no year: “I am again on my way to Bruxelles, without having met you. And, since I must play in Amiens the next week and then go to Bordeaux, I do not think I would see you. Nevertheless, I would do everything possible in order to see you and give you a hug. The fact that my mother is better will give me more time for leisure.”
No date: addressed from Weimar and reporting that he has mislaid a letter sent to him and asking his friend to remind him what he still owes Wieniawsky (perhaps Polish composer and violinist Henri Wieniawsky). In overall fine condition.
