Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich, Russian composer (1840-1893). Portrait photograph inscribed and signed.

€ 38,000.00

Fine head-and-shoulders portrait in quarter profile, within a white vignette, inscribed by Tchaikovsky to the French conductor and violinist Édouard Colonne (1838-1910), thanking him warmly for having made his music successful in France: "A mon cher ami Edouard Colonne de la part d’un artiste fier de ses succès Parisiens qu'il n'a obtenus que grâce au chef éminent du célèbre orchestre du Chatelet".

Colonne's orchestra, the "Association Artistique des Concerts Colonne" situated at the Théâtre du Châtelet since 1875, famously performed the works of contemporary French composers (doing much to rehabilitate Berlioz in his native country), but also devoted itself to the works of foreign masters, notably Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. The orchestra would also invide great composers such as Mahler, Debussy, or Prokofiev to perform their works. Colonne had met Tchaikovsky as early as 1878 during the Russian composer's visit to Paris and gave the local premiere of his 4th Symphony. In return, from 1890 onwards Tchaikovsky mediated several 'exchange' concert trips for Colonne to Russia.

A few old pencil notes on the reverse; very finely preserved.