"Saint-Saëns c'est l'inconnu"

Labiche, Eugène, French playwright (1815-1888). Autograph letter signed.

€ 450,00

Probably to the journalist, playwright and poet Edmond Cottinet (1824-95) following a first reading of their collaborative comedy in four acts, "Le Roi d'Amatibou", at the théâtre du Palais-Royal . Apart from the 3rd Act that still had "some lengths", the reading was a success, even though the male lead Jules Brasseur did not participate (having leave of absence). The central part of the letter concerns two pieces of theatre music that still needed to be composed for the play. Apparently, Cottinet had opted for the young Camille Saint-Saëns, a choice that was met with great skepticism. Labiche informs him that the theatre managers Léon Dormeuil and Francis de Plunkett and the actors were much more inclined to commission Hervé (1825-92), paraphrasing their reasoning: "Hervé c'est le connu, Saint-Saëns c'est l'inconnu. Il a un très grand talent, mais saura-t-il s'assouplir à un genre qui est si loin du sien. Si le morceau du concert n'est pas follement réussi, la pièce est perdue, ce doit être le bouquet du feu d'artifice. Maintenant si Saint-Saëns ne le réussit pas, comme notre position devient délicat et difficile vis-à-vis d'un de ce talent qui nous aura offert si obligeamment sa musique". Ultimately, Labiche also opted for Hervé, even though he does not hide his low opinion of the composer, who would nevertheless attract Parisian audiences: "Dernière considération : je ne crois pas que vous ayez la dose d'extravagance et de bêtise suffisante pour réussir cette insanité. Hervé nous fera au besoin les paroles et la musique. Cela sera révoltant et gâteux, mais cela fera courir tout Paris […]". Hervé did indeed compose the music for "Le Roi d'Amatibou", and the play premiered at the théâtre du Palais-Royal on 27 November 1868.