CORTOT Alfred, pianist. 3 Typed and Signed Letters (G 2675)

  

Franco-Swiss pianist, one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. "Alf Cortot" to the Portuguese composer.

April 16, 1931, May 27 and June 20, 1932. About the Trovas, Portuguese folk songs by Francisco LACERDA. April 16, 1931: He thanks him for the welcome he received in Lisbon and confides that his first concern, upon returning to Paris... Was to immediately put me in touch with Mr. Cools, regarding the edition of the Trovas... The latter undertakes to ensure their publication and specifies Cortot... As far as I am concerned, I therefore await the sending of your manuscripts as soon as possible and I would be very happy if I were allowed to reserve the first hearing for the École Normale. I could not proceed with my plan to have your remarkable Trovas heard at my last concert at the École Normale... Madeleine Grey, who offered to sing them, needs more time for rehearsals. The concert is therefore postponed to June.

With a very interesting program, since it will include the hearing in Paris of Brahms' Serenade opus 16, 2 unpublished pieces by Prokofiev and a divertissement by Jacques Ibert. I want to believe that the critics will make an effort on this occasion and I have no doubt about the reception that your series of melodies will receive from them. He points out that two of the melodies are not. In Madeleine Grey's texture [.] she asked me to transpose them up a tone [.

I am sure that you will have in her an interpreter of the highest order and that she will know how to highlight the intense poetry of your compositions. We are truly unlucky with your remarkable Trovas!

Madeleine Grey knew them perfectly... Was absolutely delighted with her Portuguese accent, the orchestra was called, the programs sent to our subscribers... When, at the last moment, a recording that could not wait required all the musicians.

The concert is therefore postponed to October and he hopes to see you in Paris on that occasion. Around 1850, in Santiago de Cuba, the trovadores appear, author-performers who sing alone, in duos, or trios, habaneras, puntos guajiros, guarachas, or boleros and often travel from town to town. The Trova is the set of these musical genres, rather romantic.