Pierre de BREVILLE Autographed letter signed LAMOUREUX WAGNER HUYSMANS 1887

  

Signed autograph letter from Pierre de Bréville to Maurice de Fleury, dated 1887. In this letter, Pierre de Bréville apologizes for a misunderstanding regarding the dispatch of a message and expresses his support for Charles Lamoureux after the first performance of. He proposes gathering subscriptions to offer a bronze as a token of recognition for Lamoureux's efforts.

This document captures a pivotal moment in French cultural history, blending art and political tensions.

Historical Context: In 1887, Charles Lamoureux, a fervent admirer of Richard Wagner, introduces.

To Parisian audiences in concert form for the first time. The premiere on May 3 at the Éden-Théâtre is an artistic success. However, in the midst of the Schnaebelé affair - a diplomatic crisis between France and Germany. Seen as a symbol of German culture, sparks nationalist and anti-German reactions.

Hostile demonstrations lead Lamoureux to cancel subsequent performances, making this a significant episode in the cultural and political debates of the time.

Complete text of the letter:

I begin by apologizing for a misunderstanding that fortunately did not have the unfortunate consequences it could have had for you.

As I explained to Mr. Nicolle, on Monday at 2 am, I found a note from d'Indy informing me that I would receive your ticket the next day. I immediately wrote a dispatch to inform you, and I wrote "tomorrow" without realizing that it would only be sent out on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, you were still able to attend that beautiful premiere which a few miserable fools have made unique.

There is poor Lamoureux, cruelly punished for his courageous trust and probably forever disgusted with artistic endeavors. We would like to prove to him that he is not isolated, however, and that many sympathies follow him in his disaster.

Therefore, we have decided with a few friends to offer him, in memory of the performance of "Lohengrin," some bronze, the only possible testimony of collective recognition. We are therefore collecting subscriptions on this matter among concert regulars and friends of music.

It is in this capacity that I am addressing you, asking you to be the interpreter of this project to your friends. Huysmans, Nicolle will not refuse, I am sure, to contribute to an act of compensation towards a sincere artist. They can be assured of being in the company of fervent Wagnerians who are nonetheless very good Frenchmen.

If you can gather some funds around you, I would be very grateful if you could send them to me as soon as possible, as it needs to be done very quickly. I shake your hand and ask you to believe in my best sentiments.

Keywords: Pierre de Bréville, Charles Lamoureux, Lohengrin, Richard Wagner, Éden-Théâtre, nationalism, Schnaebelé affair, autograph letter, commemorative bronze, cultural tensions, Paris 1887.