Autograph Letter Signed

ALS from the great Russian composer concerning the orchestrations of Les Nuits égyptiennes (Egyptian Nights), addressed to Belgian conductor and violinist Désiré Defauw. Dated 28th January, 1936, on postcard.  Middle fold, else fine, 5.9 x 4.13 inches (15 x 10.5 cm.). Translated from the French, in full: "My friend, The orchestra for Egyptian Nights includes a piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone (or an alto sax if there is no tenor), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 trombones, 4 cornets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 men for drums, glockenspiel, harp, piano, strings. I'm on my way to Strasbourg, then on the 31st I play in Antwerp.  I will try to arrive in Brussels after the concert on the 31st, or early the next day. Leave me a message at the Palace Hotel about rehearsals. Sincerely, Serge Prokofieff."

["Cher Ami, L'orchestre des ‘Nuits d'Egypte' se compose de: Pic, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Corno inge, 2 Cl, Cl. bus, Saxophone tenore (ou sax. alto s'il y a pas de ténor), 2 Fg., C.F, 2 T-be, 4 Cor, 3 T-ni, Tuba, Timp., 3 hommes pour la batterie, campanelli, Arpa, Piano, Quart. Je suis en route pour Strasbourg, puis le 31 je joue à Anvers. Je tâcherai d'arriver à Bruxelles après le concert le 31 ou bien le lendemain de bonne heure. Laissez-moi un mot au Palace hôtel en ce qui concerne la répétition.Très amicalement. Serge Prokofieff." ]

From 1934–1935, Sergei Prokofiev composed interstitial music for a play based on Les Nuits égyptiennes, an unfinished monologue by Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837), which by amalgamating some Shaw and Shakespeare, Tairov put together into a play, first produced in 1938.  The seven numbers making up Op. 61 have exotic sounding titles, but the music is not Prokofiev’s best.

Désiré Defauw was the first conductor of the Orchestre National de Belgique.  He moved to Montréal in 1940, and served as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1943–1947. (18701)

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Autograph Letter

Signed Document/Item

Classical Music

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