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Camille SAINT-SAENS

Lettre autographe signée adressée à Adolphe Boschot évoquant son admiration pour Mozart

s.l. 6 Février 1901, 11,5x17,5cm, quatre pages sur un feuillet et une enveloppe.

Autograph letter signed by Camille Saint-Saëns to the essayist, musicologist and music critic Adolphe Boschot. 43 lines written in black ink on a double leaf edged in black. Transverse fold inherent to the mailing with slight tears to the ends, envelope enclosed in Saint-Saëns's hand to Boschot's address at 71 rue de Grenelle. Note in pencil from a previous bibliographer on the back of the envelope.
Saint-Saëns wrote this wonderful demonstration of reverence for the Salzburg composer in 1901. That same year, his friend Boschot, the recipient of this letter, was playing Mozart's chamber music at his home at 71 rue de Grenelle. The composer apologized for his absence: “It's not my fault that, in spite of my objurgations, the earth refuses to stop in its course around the sun; for the 65th time I am witnessing this gyratory movement, and the public performance of pieces of music on the piano is no longer my prerogative. Besides, your sessions finish before the end of March, and I won't be back until April 1st, so I won't even be able to attend". In his youth, it was precisely as an interpreter of the divine artist that the prodigy Saint-Saëns had earned the nickname “little Mozart”. In the letter, he congratulates Boschot, the author of a study entitled “La Lumière de Mozart”, for his defense of the composer, whom he himself had supported against the advice of the majority: “Believe me, I regret it, and I'll be very happy to see that someone is taking care of getting the public to follow Mozart's path again. Thirty years ago, the advanced party wanted to declare war on him, so I defended him and never stopped saying those who denigrate Mozart don not understand music. Allow me to recommend his little-known motets with orchestra, including the famous Ave Verum." He ends the letter with a fine analysis of the composer's style: 

May we learn from listening to Mozart that there is more to music than sensations and nervous vibrations, and that delicate artistry and purity of form are things not to be scorned.

An exceptional expression of admiration and respect from one musical genius to another.

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