# - Casals, Pablo.

to Nora Boas-Pisling in Amsterdam, written in French, about his concerts and travels, (including a performance of his "Sardana" in Zurich with 64 cellists), the privations suffered while in exile in Prades during the war, his concerts in support of his country, later celebrating the liberation of Holland, reporting his first concerts in London after the war, and expressing his sense of disillusionment [about Franco] and his determination to give up playing and never return to Spain; later, Casals gives regular reports describing his post-war festivals at Prades ("...sera pour le petite ville de Prades un tremblement de terre..."), including setting up the original festival of Bach and Mozart in 1950 and reporting its subsequent successes (and difficulties), describing the chamber, orchestral and choral concerts, including operas by Hartmann ("...pendant deux mois nous avons eu des orgies de musique"), urging  her to attend, exchanging greetings and reports of the failing health of Frasquita (Francesca)



72 pages, some printed stationery of the Prades Festivals, a photograph signed and inscribed ("A ma chère Nora Pau Casals 1949"), and two inscribed visiting cards, with 7 autograph envelopes, many autograph address-panels, newspaper cuttings, and a letter from Casals's secretary Puig, Prades, Prague, Zurich, London, Zermatt, Perpignan,  1936-1959, a few creases and stains,

...Ma vie en France a été active pendant le non occupation de la zone Sud. J'ai donné quantité de concerts pour le bien-faisance. Je me suis tu pendant l'occupation et nous avons veçu dans une constant inquietude et par moments en danger. Les privations n'ont pas manqué. La pauvre Frasquita a perdu 25K [1 July 1945]...Moi je suis dans le même état exaspérant d'attente. Je suis deçu, horriblement deçu. Je pense serieusement à laisser mes os en exil. En attendant je n'ai plus envie de poursuivre ma vie d'artiste, de concerts--Je refuse tout [2 November 1946]...

Casals was a staunch anti-fascist. Under threat from Franco's regime, Casals settled in Prades (southern France) in 1936, where he gave many war-time concerts in support of Catalan exiles. After the war, Casals became dillusioned that there was no Allied action to bring about the end of the Franco regime.  He decided to remain in exile and refused to perform in public, until 1950, when he inaugurated a famous series of festivals at Prades in French Catalonia, which continue to this day.