French violinist (1845 - after 1890). Autograph letter signed. N. p. o. d. 8vo. 2 pp. on bifolium.
$ 299 / 280 €
(85919/BN56609)
To an unidentified musician, thanking her for a successful concert and affirming her wish to continue their collaboration: "Je m'empresse de vous exprimer mes plus vifs remerciements pour la lettre que vous avez eu la bonté de m'écrire dans laquelle vous me dites que l'on vous a dit beaucoup de bonnes choses sur mon compte depuis votre charmante soirée; j'en suis d'autant plus flattée, que c'est par vous, chère Madame, que je reçois les éloges. Avoir l'honneur de jouer avec vous c'est déjà du succès.
C'est pourquoi je suis si heureux de pouvoir continuer nos séances musicales [...]". - This beautiful letter is highly informative of Thérèse Castellan's trajectory as a female musician in a male-dominated field. In 1861 she won first prize at the Paris Conservatory playing a concert by Rodolphe Kreutzer, which started off her career as a soloist. Throughout the following three decades, Castellan often played in private settings for the European high nobility and bourgeoisie. She lived mostly in London but also toured successfully in Europe and the U.S., playing with musicians such as Adelina Patti, Christine Nilsson, and Pablo de Sarasate. - Traces of former mounting and minor browning to the upper border..