Beschreibung
4to and 8vo. 9 1/2 pages. An extraordinary series of letters clearly revealing Debussy s frustration with life at the Villa Médici. 1) Autograph letter signed twice ("A Debussy") at the conclusion and with his initials after the postscript, 4 pages (6.87 x 4.37 in.; 175 x 111 mm.), Villa Médici, [May] 1885, to Monsieur Vasnier; split along vertical fold. He writes in full: How I thank you! If you knew how good it is, when one feels so deprived of friendship, to receive a letter like yours. For an instant have relief from this life, which you give me, these are joys for which a heavy price must be paid afterward. For once it is over, it will only make you miss the moments when they were real, but I thank you for them once again and ask you to give me such as often as possible. How I would like to profit by your advice, imparted in such friendship, but I think that the seduction the contemplation of masterpieces exerts on the imagination demands a completely different moral state than that in which I am. You know my character very well, and you also know how much I am subject to ambient influences, and as well how this entire city oppresses, annihilates me. I am suffocating and am perfectly incapable of any good motion to shake up all this vile torpor, which makes me see things in a detestable light. That doesn t go so far as to have lost the sense for beautiful things, but I don t love them as one should, and so that it would be truly profitable for me. All this because I am here by virtue of a decree forcing me to feel the shadow of the Academy weighing down upon me. Oh! the Villa Médici is so full of the academic legend, from the doorman in this green uniform to the Director, who raises his gaze to the sky with an ecstatic air every time he speaks of it, and the encomiums that have been held on Michelangelo, Raphael, etc. sound like speeches given on their admission to the Academy. I am quite sure that Michelangelo would really laugh if he heard all that. I don t know if I am mistaken, but it seems to me that Michelangelo is modernism pushed to its outermost limitations; he ventured up to the point of madness, and I think that if one followed his path, it wouldn t lead you straight to the Institute. It is true that we are lads who are too small to venture down these paths. If you were here with me, how I would talk with you. How I feel, however, that as much as I would like it, it isn t going to happen. All I will be bringing back from Rome will be the fever. I already have one (not Roman) which is another reason for me to be very sad and think far too much of the friendship I left behind in Paris not to want to return there as quickly as possible. You are perhaps going to find me quite ungrateful to reply so sadly to your letter and your kindness, which is truly so good, professor, at this way of spending my time. I ask you pardon for it, I have to do better. I am sad and ill, to boot, and as you are the only person to whom I can say all that I think, I profit by it without fearing the matter of boring you about me too much. No matter I am quite afraid that if I stay here too long I will lose a lot of time for nothing, that that will be the death of many of my artistic projects, and I tell you quite frankly of not being able to wait for the moment of my deliverance [.]". In a lengthy postscript, Debussy has added, I am very glad about the success of your premiere by Mme Carvalho. As to the rest, the moment she heard Madame Vasnier, it was over. I think Mme. Carvalho is artist enough that the pleasure of the lessons given on the one part and received on the other is equal. I ask you to give my regards to Madame Vasnier and embrace Marguerite and Maurice for me. Tell them I miss them very much. I have written to Gounod. He has not yet replied". In the margin of the first page, Debussy has also written, As to the music as performed in Rome, it is best not to talk about it". - While at the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy began s. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 48563
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