H. Berlioz. Autograph letter signed, to [Humbert Ferrand], 23 December 1864

Hector Berlioz

Good long autograph letter signed ("Hector Berlioz"), to an unnamed friend [Humbert Ferrand]

informing him that his words are perfect, and that he has just spoken with Brandus, who has agreed voluntarily to engrave the hymn, explaining that his copyist will transpose the piece into F and he will add the words tomorrow, noting that Brandus will be able to provide publicity through his Gazette musicale, mentioning the 'Trojans business' at the Conservatoire, about which Gasperini has written two columns in La Nation, referring also to Gluck, Beethoven ("...even more insulted than Gluck...[trans.]"), Weber and Spontini, lamenting that only people like Flotow, whose dull opera Martha is sung in all languages and all theatres, have panegyrists, stating that he heard that ravishing little Patti singing in it the other day, describing his feeling of being covered in fleas as he left the theatre, admitting that she sang the Irish air 'The Last Rose of Summer' with such poetic simplicity that its gentle perfume almost succeeded in disinfecting the rest of the score, closing by noting that he will send [his son] Louis his congratulations, adding that he [Louis] has read his letters and considers him [Berlioz] to be fortunate in having such a friend  

...Je suis allé l'autre jour entendre la ravissante petite Patti qui jouait Martha; en sortant de là il me semblait être couvert de puces comme quand on sort d'un pigeonnier...

3 pages, 8vo (20.5 x 13.3cm), partly erased annotation in red crayon to first page, Paris, 23 December 1864

A lively and highly informative letter by Berlioz to his sometime librettist and friend of long standing, Humbert Ferrand (1800-1868). The hymn Berlioz refers to concerns Ferrand’s plan to publish the Marche from Gluck’s Alceste with words written by himself. With Berlioz’s help this was published by Brandus in February 1865, although no copy has ever been found. 

LITERATURE

Correspondance générale, vii, p.180 (no.2953)