GOUNOD Charles et WELDON Georgina (1837-1914).

Lot 303
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Result : 25 000EUR
GOUNOD Charles et WELDON Georgina (1837-1914).
125 L.A.S. from GOUNOD; and 66 L.A.S. from Georgina WELDON; plus manuscripts and documents attached; about 640 pages in various formats (several on Tavistock House letterhead), envelopes and addresses (some letters in English); plus about 150 p. (files attached). Important tender, then loving correspondence between Gounod and his English Muse, followed by a painful dispute. [Refugee in London in 1870, Gounod fell under the spell of the singer Georgina Weldon at the beginning of 1871. Georgina and her husband, William Henry Weldon, took Gounod in Gounod in their home in Tavistock Square. Georgina was the inspiration for a number of Gounod's scores; she advised him (rather badly, sometimes) in his dealings with English publishers and theatre directors; the break-up was painful for both, and ended in court cases, Georgina having sequestered Gounod's manuscripts. See Condé, p. 268-271. We can only give here a too quick overview of this passionate and exciting correspondence from "old Papa" to his "little Raton"] 1871. London 2 March, following a visit from Georgina: 'Faust, Romeo, their author are at the disposal of all that is in you of Marguerite and Juliet'... 3 March, reply from GW, asking if she can make cuts in the Elegy of F. Clay that she has to sing. Gounod replies: " As far as cuts are concerned, my scissors have never been used for anyone but me ". He went to rehearse the March of the Queen of Sheba; he will hear Paulus at Exeter Hall. 4 March, invitation from Anna Gounod. 17 March. He is "in pieces", very cold, cannot sleep; and he must go to Windsor in this state! Response from GW indicating doctors. 13 April. GW explains to CG the English system of royalties. She offers her secretarial services... 22 April. Gounod is worried at not having any news of his friend. "Homeopathy has done wonders for me. His Lamentation is not yet engraved; he has rehearsed it with the choirs at Exeter Hall; the dress rehearsal will be on Saturday at the Albert Hall. 23 April. GW is preparing to move house; she is packing up and restoring her health by splitting wood with an axe. She wants to be able to sing Pauline. She conjures up melodies: Lamentation, There is a green hill far away, The Daisy, and Beware... April 24. Gounod will send her part to sing in the choir. He is happy that the melodies and Beware pleased him: " it is well the feeling which I expressed: the 1st verses are of the seduced man, the last of the distrustful man. Be wise; don't strain yourself too much; with your system of splitting wood, beware of splitting your skull or kidneys"... April 24. Can GW bring the tenor George Bentham to the rehearsal of the Lamentation? 25 April. Sends him the solo part of Gallia; Dr. Hamilton is pleased with his health. 27 April. GW is sorry she cannot come to the rehearsals She will be at the Albert Hall: "I don't think I could applaud...it will be too beautiful"... 28 April. He is happy with his rehearsals, before the big dress rehearsal at the Albert Hall. 13 May. GW is prepared to place photographs for Abbé Boudier's work. 15 May. CG to "Mon cher petit". He is planning "a musical salute" with a lecture by Abbé Boudier "for the benefit of the unfortunate people of St Cloud", and must make arrangements with Bishop Manning. His very dear friend Bénédicte Savoye is very ill: "Ah, Life! May 24, for the birthday of his "dear little one", he gives him "a little book written by a great man. It contains my Faith, my Hope and my Love"... May 25. He will bring him the manuscript of That We Two... - "Alas! my child! Paris is lost! They have murdered the heart and head of the human race! [...] There are things that God does not take away, and it is there that one must put one's heart and one's life"... June 1st. He prepares the rehearsal of Salvation. "My dear beloved little one. How well you sang yesterday! How full and vast your voice will become again if you look after yourself well"... 21 June. Gounod gives power of attorney to the Weldons for all that concerns his musical affairs in London, and to claim his manuscripts from publishers. Calais. CG to "My dear little Raton": return to France, the crossing was good in spite of the roll. "How can I tell you all that I am taking from you and all that I am leaving behind?"... August 1. GW on his daily life, his dogs, his students. "I'm sure you'll get the Albert Hall business and then you can laugh at all your thieves.".... Paris August 2. - CG is with her son Jean who is reconstituting her collection of beetles, which disappeared in the fire at Saint-Cloud. Family news (his sisters-in-law Marthe Gounod, Zéa Pigache, the Dubufes); Halanzier is interested in Polyeucte: Georgina will sing Pauline; the 86th of Faust
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