Erik Satie

In spite of a dismissive remark about the soprano Marguertie Bériza, he signals interest in working with her and Désormière: "Pour les spectacles de cette dame, disposez de moi comme vous l'entendrez". - The attack on Auric and Poulenc of the Groupe des Six foreshadows Satie's public rupture with his former friends in an article for the Paris-Journal published on 15 February. In the meantime, Satie had been commissioned to compose ballet music for Étienne de Beaumont's company "Soirées de Paris". The letter from 16 February reflects both events, with Satie first expressing his joy that Désormière was chosen as conductor of the Beaumont "thing", which would become "Mercure". Another project was the symphonic adaptation of his ballet music for "La Belle Excentrique" (1921) for one of Désormière's concerts. Satie concedes that the dancer Élisabeth Toulemont, known as Caryathis, was the owner of the piece, but appears to scold Georges Auric for objecting to the adaptation of the material due to her ownership. He announces he shall "write two little things in collaboration with Tzara" and stresses that he has "the right to turn 'la Belle Excentrique' into a symphonic piece, which Auric knows well but does not say". In closing, Satie advises Désormière to obtain a copy of his piano arrangement of "La Belle Excentrique", published by the famous Éditions de la Sirène in 1922. - The final letter in the collection from 26 February is a reaffirmation of Satie's plans for a rearrangement of "La Belle Excentrique" in order to reassure an impatient Désormière: "I work for you: give me, however, the time to compose what I have to do. Will you be so kind? ... Concerning 'La Belle Excentrique' do not 'worry': as soon as Caryathis will be back from the Midi, I will have the complete material. Yes" (transl.). - Désormière conducted "La Belle Excentrique" on 5 April at Charles Dullin's Théâre de l'Atelier. The premiere of the ballet "Mercure" with Satie's music, stage and costume designs by Pablo Picasso, and a choreography by Léonide Massine on 14 June 1924 resulted in a theatre scandal, as factions of the Parisian avantgarde audience clashed and the Surrealist group led by André Breton and Louis Aragon disrupted the performance. - Traces of folds. Minimally stained. Letter from 16 February somewhat creased..

They are right, in fact". In a charming postscriptum, Satie thanks Désormière and congratulates him on last night's performance: "Thank you for your dedication. You are a 'chic guy'... Very successful last night!" (transl.). - With Satie's music, stage and costume design by Pablo Picasso, and a choreography by Léonide Massine who would also dance the principal role, Mercure was supposed to be the much-needed hit for Étienne de Beaumont's ballet company Soirées de Paris. However, the premiere provoked a theater scandal as different cultural factions of the Parisian avantgarde clashed in the audience. Most notoriously, the Surrealists led by André Breton and Louis Aragon tried to win over Picasso and took aim at Satie for having criticized Breton's attempt to overthrow Tzara as leader of the Dadaists. The ballet had scarcely begun when the Surrealists started chanting "Bravo Picasso! Down with Satie!" from the back of the theater. Darius Milhaud started to argue with the Breton group, Satie fans voiced their support, and a handful of people approached Picasso's box and hurled insults at him. The police were called to restore order before the performance could continue. While the following five performances of Mercure passed without incident, the reception of the ballet and particularly of Satie's music was cold and would have a lasting negative effect on his posthumous reputation. Mercure is the least known of Satie's three ballets and little performed even if the music has been revaluated since the scandalous premiere. - Roger Désormière (1898-1963) joined the Ballets Russes as principal conductor in 1925. He kept Satie's ballet music in his repertoire. - Traces of folds and somewhat creased..