Lot 164
  • 164

Massenet, Jules

Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
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Description

  • Massenet, Jules
  • Fine large printed portrait, inscribed by Massenet with thirty autograph musical quotations from almost all his operas and oratorios, signed and inscribed "à l'ami Paul Poirson affectueusemente J. Massenet..."
  • paper
the musical quotations notated in black ink on the grey mount, including short excerpts, named and inscribed by the composer, some dated, including from Manon ("On l'appelle Manon!"), Thaïs, Werther ("O nature, pleine de grâce"), Esclarmonde, Hérodiade, Cendrillon, La Navarraise, Marie-Magdeleine, Le roi de Lahore, Le Cid, Ariane, Roma, Eve, Les jardins de St Marin, L'adorable Bel-Boul! and many others, 

overall size: 61.5 x  53.5cm, contemporary wooden frame by R. Charpentier of Paris, gilt bas-reliefs featuring instruments to frame, glazed, Paris, March 1891 [-1912]

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This remarkable item contains short quotations from practically all Massenet's operas and oratorios, dating from Marie-Magdeleine (1873) to Panurge (which was staged only in 1913, after the composer's death), except for Amadis and the one-act opéra-comique Le portrait de Manon.  Also included are the ballet Le carillon (1892) and incidental music to Les Erinnyes (1872) and Phèdre (1900). 

Although this unique record of his theatrical works was apparently begun by Massenet in March 1891, he evidently inserted additional quotations much later, in 1912, both from his very early operettas L'adorable Bel-Boul! and Bérangère et Anatole (1876) and also from his final three operas, Don Quichotte (1910), Roma (1912) and Panurge.  Massenet has also added a few songs, either composed to Paul Poirson's own poetry ('La rose de mai'), or dedicated to his wife, such as 'Les jardins de St Marin'.