French singer and educator (1811-1871). Autograph letter signed. N. p. 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph address and traces of seal.
$ 295 / 280 €
(90062/BN59513)
Interesting letter to the composer Napoléon Henri Reber, asking him to accompany Delsarte to an audition of some students of Émile-Joseph-Maurice Chevé who seem to have received lessons from Delsarte himself: "Je vais, demain soir, entendre les élèves de Chevé conformément à la promesse que je leur ai faite. Voulez-vous y venir avec moi ? Je voudrais pour beaucoup vous voir assister à cette audition car je suis persuadé que vous seriez charmé des résultats déjà obtenus. [...] J'espère que vous ne m'objecterez pas quel qu'empêchement car, je vous le répète, je tiens infiniment à vous rendre juge des efforts que nous pouvons attendre l'hiver prochain.
Tout le monde, d'ailleurs, vous saura bon gré de cette dimarche". - The letter points to a connection between the two eminent singing teachers Chevé and Delsarte. Apparently, Chevé gave Delsarte the opportunity to test his experimental methods of singing and voice training with his own students. Unlike Chevé, who was co-founder of the Galin-Paris-Chevé-Method, Delsarte did not commit to writing any of his innovative teaching methods. It was through his American student, the actor Steele MacKaye, that Delsarte's methods were introduced to the U.S. Together with his student Genevieve Stebbins, MacKaye developed the extremely popular Delsarte system of expression. François Delsarte's most famous student was Sarah Bernhardt. - Traces of folds. The lower right margin bent. With tear from breaking the seal (address leaf)..