Horenstein, Jascha. (1898–1973) Autograph Letter to Marcel Mihalovici and Monique Haas

Horenstein, Jascha. (1898–1973)

Autograph Letter to Marcel Mihalovici and Monique Haas

Autograph letter from the Ukrainian-born conductor to composer Marcel Mihalovici and his wife, pianist Monique Haas. January 29, 1951. Translated from the French: "My dear Monique, my dear Marcel, In London, where I arrived from New York a few days ago, Mr. Aprahamian told me that BALLO, which never replied to my letter, has accepted Phèdre for Venice (Teatro Fenice). That was better than a reply and it is news that I am very happy to hear. I am staying in Brussels until February 8 and then I will leave for Monte Carlo and hope to see you in Paris soon (either on the way to or coming back from M. C.) With all my congratulations for Phèdre and best wishes for 1951. Affectionately, Jascha. PS. My best to Marika and Tibor Harsanyi. PPS. I have lost my little notebook with all the European addresses. It's a terrible job to reconstruct them. Would you be so kind as to send me your telephone number, and the address and telephone numbers of Héléne d-M, Tausman, Spitzmuller, Martha Freud." Fine. 5.5 x 8.5 inches (13.7 x 21.5 cm). Autograph material from Horenstein is scarce.

Jascha Horenstein was a composition student of Schreker who went on to be Furtwängler's assistant in Berlin until the rise of the Nazis forced him to leave for the United States. Specialist in Mahler and Bruckner, he was a champion of 20th century music but had a vast and varied repertory and a long and spectacular career.

Marcel Mihalovici (1898–1985) was a French composer born in Romania, a proponent of neoclassicism who also embraced a variety of contemporary styles. His opera Phèdre was written in 1948 to a libretto by Yvan Goll, and first staged in Stuttgart in 1951. His wife, Monique Haas (1909–1987), was a pianist particularly known for her performances of Ravel, Bartok, and Debussy. Also mentioned in the present letter are English music critic Felix Aprahamian (1914–2005) and Hungarian composer and pianist Tibor Harsányi (1898–1954). (17148)

Autograph Letter Classical Music