Collection of Autograph Letters to his Manager

An interesting collection of autograph letters from the great Belgian violin virtuoso to the impresario and musical manager Jérôme Alliod. Dating from 1880 to 1884, the ten letters deal mainly with Marsick's engagements in France, Germany, Switzerland, and elsewhere in Europe, some mentioning details of programming and others referencing the performer's fees and reviews. Included are letters dated Jul. [5?], 1880 (4 pp.); Jul. 18, 1880 (3 pp.); Jul. 24, 1880 (4 pp.); Sep. 17, 1881 (2 pp.); Sep. 27, 1881 (2 pp.); Sep. 29, 1881 (3 pp.); Dec. 30, 1881 (3 pp.); Aug. 5, 1884 (2 pp.); Aug. 21, 1884 (3 pp.); and Sep. 5, 1884 (2 pp.) Together with three further letters from Marsick to other correspondents: one to a critic concerning a review (Mar. 26, 1879, 2 pp.); one to the baritone Léon Melchissédec ("mon cher Milchi"), regarding a young singer who would like to study with him (n.d., [1908], 3 pp.); and one to a Madame Privat concerning a missed invitation (n.d., 2 pp. with original envelope.) Light toning, some letters with partial splits at the fold, but overall in fine condition.

Highlights include a lengthy letter (July 24, 1880) concerning plans for a concert with Camille Saint-Saens, in which Marsick discusses problems with another concert promoter, M. Henry, relating to plans for a concert at the Villa des Fleurs in Aix-le-Bains: "I told him that I do not [appreciate] his dawdling, and that if you leave him he will have no one to blame but himself." He goes on to discuss the repertoire for the concert: "As to the program, I think that if Saint-Saens wants to play our duo concert [...] the great sonata of Beethoven dedicated to Kreutzer, nothing could be more appropriate to wake the interest of the public; that work [...] always has the gift of attracting people. For myself [...] I would like to play a concert by Vieuxtemps, the 5th in A minor; 2 pieces of my own; a Chopin nocturne transcribed by me; and a Danse Hongroise by Sarasate."

From the collection of the composer Henri Bresles [Henri Bachimont] (1864–1924), with original sleeve from his collection.

One of the greatest touring violinists at the end of the 19th century, Marsick performed with the leading conductors of Paris—Charles Lamoureux, Jules Pasdeloup, and Édouard Colonne—while also touring the rest of Europe and the United States. He performed with Camille Saint-Saens and was the dedicatee of his Sonata op. 75, as well as premiering his Violin Concerto no. 2 in 1880. He also played with Joseph Joachim and in a trio with the cellist Anatoliy Brandukov and the pianist Vladimir von Pachmann. From 1892 until 1900, he was a professor at the Paris Conservatory, where his students included Carl Flesch, Jacques Thibaud, and George Enescu. In 1900, he deserted his wife Berthe Marsick née Mollot and fled abroad with a married woman. Although the woman later rejoined her husband and Marsick returned to Paris in 1903, his professional career never recovered from the scandal and he died in poverty. (15847)

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