Ysaye, Eugene. (1858–1931) & Gérardy, Jean. (1877–1929) & Abott, Bessie. (1878–1919)
Autograph Musical Quotation and Original Photographs
Rare AMQS from the masterful violinist on a large page together with a signed mounted card and early original photograph of the great Belgian cellist, Jean Gérardy.2 boldly penned measures of music identified as "mod[era]to" in Ysaye's hand, signed and inscribed "A mes vieux et chers Amis Mr. et Madame Henshaw / bien affecteux Souvenir E. Ysaye / Vancouver 1898 et ... 1913" on a large album page below an original mounted photograph. The mounted photograph and signed page from Gérardy are to the right and the verso of the page includes an autograph inscription and striking large mounted original albumen photograph of American opera singer Bessie Abott (1878 - 1919). From an album compiled by Julia Wilmotte Henshaw (1869 - 1937), English-Canadian botanist and journalist. 25 x 33 cm.
Carl Flesch called Ysaye "the most outstanding and individual violinist I have ever heard in my life," and he was the dedicatee of many major works from Debussy, Saint-Saens, Franck, Chausson and others.
As a student, Gérardy, played in a trio with Paderewski and Ysaye and later toured with Ysaye and Godowsky and with Kreisler and Hoffman. Another collaborator, the French pianist André Benoist, wrote: "There was an artist! His tone had the impact of a cannon ball. Withal, it was luminous and pure. His finger dexterity was pure witchery. An amazing fellow! Handsome as a Greek god, and, a rara avis, totally unaware of this fact! And what a great lover! The ladies would not leave him alone, and he returned the compliment a thousand fold." (6822)
AMQS Classical Music