Collection of 25 letters from French composers, other musicians, writers, and others to the French conductor and composer, who served as music director at various opera houses in Paris: Italian Opera (1830-32), Opéra-comique (1837-46) and Opéra de Paris (1846-60). Also a few letters to Girard's wife and one to an unidentified "Abbé." All in French, as follows:

1. Alard, Delphin. (1815-1888)

ALS of the French violinist and composer. Dated "Tuesday." 2 pp. Blue bifolium. "I am sorry to tell you that I foolishly advanced myself by promising to the Committee to play the Mendelssohn concerto on Good Friday. For some time I have been performing that much that my eyes show how tired I am, and when night falls, I suffer terribly and cannot endure the light anymore, which will prevent me from participating in my last concerts if the condition continues. - I am writing you immediately so that you can find s substitute as soon as possible. - I do not have to tell you, my dear Mr. Girard, how much it costs me to make this decision and to have decline to my colleagues and especially to you, who have always welcomed and encouraged me more than I deserved. I am asking you to please communicate this to the Committee an to assure it that on any other occasion of my complete devotion." Two tears but no loss. 8 x 5 inches (20.5 x 13 cm). After an early career as a virtuoso performer, Alard became one of the most influential violin teachers in France. He served on the faculty of the Paris Conservatory from 1843 to 1875.

2. Auber, Daniel-François-Esprit (1782-1871)

Form letter (letterhead and part of text printed) of the Paris "Conservatoire Impérial de Musique et de Déclamation," signed by Auber, its director. Paris, July 26, 1853. 1 p. Bifolium; address and hand stamps to final page. Form completed to customize it for the occasion, possibly in a secretarial hand: "The competition [continuation in manuscript] of the Grand-opéra will take place Friday, August 5, at 9 AM sharp." Name of recipient added in the probably secretarial hand to foot, left. 8.25 x 5.25 inches (21 x 13 cm). Auber served as director of the Conservatory from 1842 bis 1870.

3. Boieldieu, Adrien (1775-1834)

ALS of the French composer, best known for his comic operas and harp concerto. No date. 1 p. Bifolium, with address to final page. "I assure you of my most lively desire to hear the Pastoral Symphony [by Beethoven?]. Am I indiscreet if I ask you for permission to enter the backstage area in the theatre, behind the orchestra? I would be highly appreciative of this..." 5.25 x 4 inches (10 x 13 cm). 

4. Cherubini, Salvador (1801-1869)

ALS of the French painter, son of the famous Italian-born composer Luigi Cherubini. Paris, March 20, 1852. 1 p. Stationery of the Ministère d'etat – Direction des Palais et Manufactures. "I should have sent you the two attached autographs long ago and I seize the occasion to make the wish of your parent come true, with great pleasure..." 8 x 5 inches (20 x 13 cm). It seems plausible that this letter is about musical autographs of Luigi Cherubini, but there is no evidence.

 

5. Chollet, Jean-Baptiste (1798-1892)

ALS of the French tenor. Bordeaux, July 15, 1838. 3 pp. Bifolium, with address to final page. Chollet complains about the heat in Bordeaux, which is conducive to the spread of infectious diseases, and the tight schedule at the local theater, but he is proud of his success in Ferdinando Paër's Le maître de Chapelle and Adolphe Adam's Le postilion de Lonjumeau. The local premiere of Halévy's L'Eclair is scheduled for the next day. Slightly frayed to foot. 8.25 x 5 inches (21 x 13 cm). Chollet began his career as a baritone but became a tenor later.

6. Damoreau-Cinti, Laure (1801-1863)

ALS of the French opera singer (coloratura soprano) to "Madame"—probably Girard's wife. August 22, 1852. 3 pp. Bifolium. Signed "L D-Cinti." 6.25 x 4 inches (16 x 10 cm). Damoreau-Cinti (sometimes written "Cinti-Damoreau"; "Damoreau" was her married name) was one of the first coloratura sopranos on the French stage and excelled in Rossini's and Auber's operas in particular.

7. Halévy, Fromental (1799-1862) (3)

a) ALS of the French composer, best known for his opera La juive. Dated "Friday." 1 p. Bifolium. "Dear Mr. Girard, as I am waiting for the full score of Le guitarrero, allow me to offer the scattered pieces..." 8 x 5 inches (20 x 13 cm). Le guitarrero is an opera by Halévy first produced in 1841.

b) ALS. Dated "Friday." 1 p. Bifolium; address to final page. "My dear Girard, you should not doubt the pleasure that I would have if I were nice to you..." Dampstained and frayed to outer edge. 8.25 x 5.25 inches (21 x 13.3 cm). 

c) ALS. Wednesday, June 14, 1848 1 p. Bifolium. "My dear Girard, I will ask you for a favor for my student [Léon] Gastinel..." 7 x 4.5 inches (17.5 x 11 cm). The date is debatable. "June 24" would seem more plausible, but June 24, 1848 was not a Wednesday. Léon Gastinel (1823-1906) was French violinist and composer. He studied with Halévy from 1843.

9. Janin, Jules (1804-1874)

ALS of the French writer. June 10, 1851. 1 p. Bifolium. "Would you permit me you to address a great [...] to you, and one that is quite shameful?..." 7 x 4.5 inches (17.5  x 11 cm). 

10. Lepic, Ludovic-Napoléon (1839-1889)

ALS of the French artist, archaeologist and patron of the arts to "Madame," probably Girard's wife. Fontainebleau, October 26 [?], 1868. 1 p. Bifolium with black edges. "I will bring back Suzanne to Paris tomorrow, Monday. So she will be able to resume her good lessons from Tuesday or Wednesday. She practiced the piano a lot..." 7 x 4.75 inches (18.5 x 12 cm). The author should no be confused with General Louis Lepic (1765-1827), who was long dead when this letter was written.

11. Meifred, Pierre-Joseph (1791-1867)

ALS of the French horn player, professor at the Paris Conservatory from 1833. Paris, December 12, 1849. 1 p. Bifolium; stationery of Conservatoire de Musique. "It is too late in the morning to wake you up, but I wish that you will read this letter, which contains the expression of my appreciation for the good hit of my shoulder that you you gave me: I will receive the letter from the minister, who has announced my nomination. I am happy, and I will thank Mr. Auber in the name of myself, my brother and my friends, who will share the vivid satisfaction that I experience." 8 x 5.25 inches (21 x 13 cm).

12. Mellinet, Émile (1798-1894)

Partly autograph letter of the long-lived French general; main text secretarial with autograph corrections; extended autograph P.S. October 9, 1879. 3 pp. Bifolium; personalized stationery with letterhead, "Garde Impériale, 1e Division d' Infanterie, Général Mellinet." Secretarial text: "I will direct your entire interest to Madame Cagnier, wife of one of our conductors in the military music, who is about to appear at the competition as a soprano in the choir of the [following word autograph:] Conservatory. My wife and I, we are very closely related to this lady, and we would be very happy if she were successful [autograph insert follows, partly illegible":] like a... I think, my dear Mr. Girard, that I, without trying to influence you, I still may recommend Madame Cagnier to all your well-wishing to seize with eagerness this occasion to renew our [autograph correction, illegible]..." Autograph P.S. is difficult to decipher; it begins, "I hope, my dear Sir, that you don't believe..." 8.5 x 5.25 inches (21 x 13.5 cm). An interesting attempt of a highly ranked person from outside the Conservatory to manipulate the outcome of a competition.

13. Membrée, Edmond (1820-1882)

ALS of the French composer. No place, no date. 1 p. Bifolium with blind stamped initials "EM." Membrée asks Girard to accept his child as a pensioner. 7.5 x 4.75 inches (18.5 x 12 cm).

14. Monpou, Hippolyte (1804-1841)

ALS of the French composer and organist. November 10, 1837 [?]. 1 p. Bifolium with blindstamped initials "HM." "Allow me to offer you a slight piece of evidence of my gratitude for what you have done for my Piquillo..." Monpou's opera Piquillo was first performed in 1837. 8 x 5 inches (10 x 13 cm).

15. Roqueplan, Nestor (1805-1870) and Duponchel, Henri (1794-1868)

ALS of Roqueplan, a French writer and theater director, written in the first person plural and co-signed by Duponchel, a French stage and costume designer and stage director. Paris, April 17, 184[9]. Bifolium; stationery of "Opéra, Théâtre de la Nation." "My dear Maestro, we looked for you after the performance of Monday to thank you and to congratulate you. We keep the memory of your skill of [illegible] and your zeal that you have proven and of which you set an example from the first rehearsals of Le prophète until it appeared on stage..." Meyerbeer's opera Le prophète had been first performed on the previous night, April 16, 1849, Girard conducting. Frayed and bent to head. 8.5 x 5 inches (22 x 14 cm).

16. de Sahune (1808-1896), née de Dietrich, Amélie

ALS to "Madame," probably Mrs. Girard. February 12,[1847]. 1 p. Bifolium; address to final page. The author announces the wedding of her son, Sigismond de Sahune, to "Miss Adolphe" [Marie Henriette] Perier. Sigismond de Sahune (1810-1903), captain of a Hussars unit in Marseille, married on March 17, 1847, which allows to date this letter. 

17. Scribe, Eugène (1791-1861)

ALS of the famous writer and librettist. Paris, February 16, 1855. 1 p. Bifolium. About a "poor boy" named Mr. Cailletau, a singer, "in whom I am interested very much." He asks Girard to support Cailletau "so that my protégé will become yours as well to some extent." The identity of Calletau remains unclear. 8 x 5.25 inches (20.5 x 13.5 cm).

18. Thomas, Ambroise (1811-1896)

ALS of the French composer and long-time director of the Paris Conservatory. Dated "Monday morning 9 o'clock." 1 p. Bifolium. "Dear friend, I would have come quickly to bring you the good news if I had your number ready. You were one of the first in my thought..." 8.25 x 5.25 inches (21 x 13.5 cm).

19. Vitet, Ludovic (1802-1873)

ALS of the French politician and writer. Dated "Paris, May 14 [?]." 1 p. Bifolium; address to final page. Vitet recommends a cellist, Mr. Guéroun [?], to the orchestra of the Opéra. 7.25 x 5 inches (18.5 x 12.5 cm).

20. Bounchée [?]

ALS by an unknown admirer. September [?] 6, 1859. 1 p. First leaf of bifolium. The unidentified author presents the recipient with homemade cigars, which were apparently accompanied by this letter. 8 x 5.25 inches (20 x 13 cm).

21.Claret, Th.[?]

ALS by unidentified "colleague" of Girard. August 12, 1851. 1 p. Bifolium, with address to final page. "Sir and dear colleague, Mr. Alphonse Siméon, a young artist whose brother studies with Mr. Klosé at the Conservatory, asks me for a letter of recommendation to you. I hasten to respond to his wish, and I hope that in memory of your former classmate, you will be willing to welcome my protégé, who is burning to see the illustrations from the capital city in real life." The author is probably a musician in a French provincial city who once studied together with Girard at the Paris Conservatory. Hyacinthe Klosé (1808-1880) taught the clarinet at the Paris Conservatory from 1838. There is no record of a musician named Alphonse Siméon.

22. [Unidentified signature]

ALS to "Monsieur l' Abbé." Dated "Tuesday." 2 pp. Small bifolium. About scheduling a meeting. The identity of both author and recipient remain unestablished. 4.5 x 3.5 inches (11.5 x 9 cm). The identity of the "Abbé" is unknown; Girard never was an "Abbé."

23. Poem of four lines in calligraphic script, dedicated to "Monsieur Charles." No author indicated. Oblong leaf, 3.5 x 7 inches (9 x 17 cm).

24. Small envelope addressed to "Monsieur Girard, chef d'orchestra de l'opéra." May have contained one of the letters in this collection, together with a small stamped portrait of an unidentified male figure.