![SAINT-SAENS, Camille. A collection of three autograph letters signed to 'Mon cher Meyer' [editor of a journal] and to unidentified correspondents, n.p. and St James Hotel, Aswan, 6 June 1907, 22 December 1909 and n.d., 6 pages, 8vo and 4to.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2004/CKS/2004_CKS_06962_0044_000(085806).jpg?w=1)
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SAINT-SAENS, Camille. A collection of three autograph letters signed to 'Mon cher Meyer' [editor of a journal] and to unidentified correspondents, n.p. and St James Hotel, Aswan, 6 June 1907, 22 December 1909 and n.d., 6 pages, 8vo and 4to.
To Meyer Saint-Saëns writes a letter evidently for publication in a journal on the subject of opera librettos, rebutting a claim that literary texts cannot be successfully transformed into 'lyric speech', and listing a number of celebrated operas as examples: 'But it seems that Gluck, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Mozart, Gounod and the living musicians are negligible quantities. As for the public, it has long since ceased to be listened to'. The letter of December 1909 from Aswan recounts his experiments in playing the harp according to ancient Theban techniques -- 'the ancient harpist remained standing'. An undated letter explains that an arrangement is impossible because 'Sarasate has asked me to accompany him myself in my sonata which he was supposed to play with Diémer at his concert tomorrow'. (3)
To Meyer Saint-Saëns writes a letter evidently for publication in a journal on the subject of opera librettos, rebutting a claim that literary texts cannot be successfully transformed into 'lyric speech', and listing a number of celebrated operas as examples: 'But it seems that Gluck, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Mozart, Gounod and the living musicians are negligible quantities. As for the public, it has long since ceased to be listened to'. The letter of December 1909 from Aswan recounts his experiments in playing the harp according to ancient Theban techniques -- 'the ancient harpist remained standing'. An undated letter explains that an arrangement is impossible because 'Sarasate has asked me to accompany him myself in my sonata which he was supposed to play with Diémer at his concert tomorrow'. (3)
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