{"product_id":"22302-fontainebleau-bazelaire-paul-postcards-from-the-american-conservatory-at-fontainebleau-including-classes-of-widor-capet-casadesus-philipp","title":"[Fontainebleau] Bazelaire, Paul. (1886–1958) Postcards from the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, including classes of Widor, Capet, Casadesus, Philipp","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eSixteen rare postcards, each depicting one class or venue of the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, France, with their professors or leaders named and identified, ca. 1925.  The students are not identified.  Printed by Ménard, Fontainebleau.  Each card in oblong format, 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 13.8 cm). In fine condition.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eA closer look shows that these cards do not all belong to the same series, suggesting that the collection was assembled at a later date. One card is different from all others; the printer's sign on verso is in circular shape, and there are extra credits, \"Cliché-Esparcieux,\" to the lower right corner of the recto side.  The caption is in English only: \"American Art Schools of Fontainebleau. \/  School of Music — Ensemble class – Professor: Paul Bazelaire.  This card was not torn from a block, as it has no remnants of perforation to any edge.  As the only card in this collection, it was actually used as a post card—by Paul Bazelaire.  His message is addressed to Madame Emery in Paris and postmarked June 12, 1930, suggesting that this card is some years later than the others.  In full, translated from the French: \"Madame, Unfortunately I have a committee [meeting] at the Conservatory all afternoon on Thursday the 19th and I cannot welcome your young violoncellist as I had once proposed it to you. I will wait for him [or her?] on 11 AM the same day for half an hour if you do not tell me otherwise. Regards, Paul Bazelaire.\"  Bazelaire was first and foremost a cellist and teacher, but a capable performer on various instruments and also a successful composer.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eTwelve of the other cards are identical on their verso and unquestionableybelong to the same series.  They are all torn from a block, as remnants of the perforation are visible at the left edge.  Their captions are bilingual, in French and English (only the English captions are given here):\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eThe Director's office: M. et Mme. Francis Casadesus, M. Jules Casadesus\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eBoudoir des Laques (Reception room) \/ M. Francis Casadesus receiving the american[!] journalists.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eMusic Library \/ In the back ground: M. Vincent, librarian \/ In the fore ground: M. Jules Casadesus, Secretary to the Directors\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePresident Carnot smoking room \/ French Diction class \/ Professor: M. Robert Casadesus sr.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eConducting class \/ Professor: M. Francis Casadesus\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePiano class \/ Dir.: I. Philipp. \/ Professor: M. P. Silva-Hérard\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePiano class (Dir.: I. Philipp) \/ Professor: M. Robert Casadesus\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePiano class (Dir.: I. Philipp.) \/ Professor: M. Motte-Lacroix\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePiano accompaniment class \/ Professor: M. Paul Fauchet\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eThe Organ class \/ Professors: MM. Ch. Widor et[!] H. Libert (also depicted and identified: Francis Casadesus and [Maurice] Fragnaud)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eSinging class \/ Professor Mlle Marcelle Demougeot, de l'Opéra [sic] (also depicted and identified: Mme. Flornoy-Tonery)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eOpera class Professor: M. Pierre Chéreau\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eThree more cards are almost identical to the above in their layout, but the printer's name on verso lacks the accent, suggesting a different series:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eViolin class: Director: Lucien Capet \/Professor: Mr M. Hewitt (card shows no remnants of perforation)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003ePiano class (Dir.: I. Philipp.) \/ Professor: M. Decroix\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eOpera class Professor: M. Pierre Chéreau (recto identical with the opera class card above)\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr style=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"\"\u003eSet in the magnificent chateau and town of Fontainebleau, about 40 miles southeast of Paris, The Fontainebleau Schools were founded in 1921 \u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eduring World War I when the US sought to build a music school to improve the U.S. military bands, headquartered in France. A\u003c\/span\u003efter the war, Walter Damrosch (\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003ethen conductor of the \u003c\/span\u003eNew York Philharmonic, and first organizer of the school) and Francis Casadesus  (composer and teacher) decided to continue this successful operation. With the full support of French authorities, as well as that of composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor, who became its first director, the American Conservatory, was granted permission to open in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau. The American Conservatory (Fr. \u003ci style=\"\"\u003eConservatoire américain de Fontainebleau\u003c\/i\u003e) intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46093808959647,"sku":"22302","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/4826\/7423\/files\/Bazelaire_2C_Paul_Postcards_from_the_American_Conservatory_at_Fontainebleau_22302a.jpg?v=1722190513","url":"https:\/\/www.schubertiademusic.com\/products\/22302-fontainebleau-bazelaire-paul-postcards-from-the-american-conservatory-at-fontainebleau-including-classes-of-widor-capet-casadesus-philipp","provider":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}