Beschreibung:

Berlioz, Hector, (1803-1869) AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("HECTOR BERLIOZ"), TO PRINCE GREGORY VOLKONSKY IN ST. PETERSBURG, ABOUT THE GRANDE MESSE DES MORTS, OP.5, 23 JANUARY 1839 recalling his beautiful singing at the soirées of Léon de Wailly informing him that the Grande messe des morts has just been published, a work which he composed at the request of the French government, expressing a wish to send a copy to the Tsar, and asking if he could advise him how best to proceed; as a final thought, Berlioz observes that he might make the long journey to St. Petersburg the following year 'with his baggage full of symphonies etc.', when he would also be happy to renew their acquaintance ("...Vous avez peut-être entendu parler de la Messe de Requiem que j'ai composée par ordre du gouvernement Français et qui a été executée aux funérailles du Général Damrémont. Cet ouvrage vient de paraître...") 2 pages, 4to (26 x 20cm), integral autograph address-panel, Paris, 23 January 1839, seal tears, with some paper loss, tear to first leaf, not affecting text