Beschreibung:

SAINT-SAENS, Camille. A collection of five autograph letters signed and four autograph postcards signed to his childhood friend René Thorel (a number addressed simply to 'mon cher ami', 'mon cher young sport ' or other forms), Paris, Luxor, Rirha, and n.p., 31 March 1911 - 1 August 1920, together approximately 20 pages, various sizes ; two envelopes. Chatty, amusing letters to his oldest friend. An undated letter recommends that Thorel's son look out 'mon ancien élève Gabriel Fauré...une des lumières de la jeune École'. In 1914 he writes jokingly of a compliment 'instead of saying: when S-S gives such an example, one has to bow very low before him, -- he should have said: when S-S gives such and example, one should follow it'; the same letter refers to a production of his early opera Le Timbre d'Argent . In January 1916 he complains 'je ne sors pas des concerts, des representations, des repetitions'. In October 1919 he reports that 'the Opera wants to give some concerts; but there are no musicians to be found - the few that are left are employed by the Opéra Comique'. A number of letters make admiring reference to Thorel's life in California: 'If California were more widely known, all the world would want to live there and it would become uninhabitable'. The last letter, in 1920, reports that Saint-Saens is still active, on a visit to Greece: 'I played the piano like Saint Piano himself...'.