French playwright and opera librettist (1830-1897). Autograph letter signed. Paris. Small 8vo. 2½ pp. on bifolium. With autograph envelope.
$ 214 / 200 €
(90483/BN60231)
Highly interesting letter to Philippe Gille, concerning the libretto for Léo Delibes' posthumous opera Kassya, based on a novella by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, that was co-authered by Meilhac and Gille. Meilhac tells Gille that it wouldn't be worth the trouble to come visit him in Paris as he is working "like a horse" and will probably lock himself up during "four days". Thus, he directly conveys "word by word the observations of Delibes" who had died a few months earlier. Most of Delibes' observations seem to ask for certain scenes to be set in vers, criticize the amount of prose, or suggest cuts but in two instances, concrete changes are demanded: "Amener la chanson, peut-être lui faire répondre à lui quelque chose qui ramènerait un deuxième couplet" and "Supprimer je crois, 'Et quoi, pas un mot de tendresse'" (both act II, scene 4).