Lalo, Edouard. (1823–1892) [Sarasate, Pablo de. (1844–1908)]
Autograph Letter Signed to Pablo de Sarasate
Interesting autograph letter signed from the the French composer and violinist to fellow violinist Pablo de Sarasate, shedding light on their friendship and mentioning Parisian gossip and Sarasate's failed tour of Hungary. March 28, 1877. Lalo genially rebukes Sarasate for thinking he had not replied to his letter, suggesting that the piano manufacturer Bosendorfer, who Sarasate had asked to forward his letters, had not been doing so; he then reassures Sarasate that he was not offended to be addressed as "tu" and that he would be glad to have a closer friendship with the other man. Going on, he reports news from the music publisher Durand, that Sarasate had been conned on a recent tour of Hungary, and offers to stop the gossip about this in whatever way Sarasate likes. 4 pp. on a bifolium; folding creases, area of water damage to the first and second pages; very legible and overall very good. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.4 x 18 cm).Translated from the French, in full: "My dear friend, two things, one: either you are pretending not to receive the letters of your friends to have no trouble answering them, or your piano maker is not sending them to you. I wrote you twice: a first, very short letter, it is true, I was in a hurry that day, then a very long second letter in response to yours; all addressed to Mr. Boïendorf, piano maker at Vienna, with the request to be forwarded. As for your supposition that I did not answer because you had called me "tu", I find this insolent [...] I replied at length; it is true that I had to cross out some "vous"s to replace them with "tu"s, but it was a remnant of an old habit, and if I bothered to scratch out these old words, that proves my sincere desire to fraternize more with the famous Don Pablo de Sarasate. All jokes aside, dear friend, a closer bond between us could only make me very happy. It had been more than a month since I had been at the Place de la Madeleine, when last night I went in to find out if we had any news of you; Durand frightened me by saying that you had been deceived by your impresario, by your secretary, he added that the pianist Door had the finesse to take precautions, but all the expenses of the tour of Hungary had fallen on you and you had lost a lot of money; this morning he sends me your letter of the 24th, and as you do not speak of these pretended disasters, I still hope that all this is very exaggerated. In any case, I warn you of these rumors that could circulate, so that you may deny them if you judge it appropriate; as for me I will not say a word, because it may be the work of someone jealous of your successes; give me your instructions in this respect, I will say only what you will want to stop the gossip. The story of Miss Pommereul's departure has astonished everyone here, undoubtedly wrongly; malignity seizes the slightest circumstances and it is difficult to disarm it. Mrs. Szarvady says that you are giving a session with her in late April, is that right? We send you all our best memories and our wish to see you again soon. Affectionately, E. Lalo."
Lalo and Sarasate had a collegial relationship, with Lalo dedicating one of his most famous works, the Symphonie espagnole (1875) to Sarasate. (17433)
Classical Music Autograph Letter