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320 - Eugène YSAŸE (1858–1931). Autograph letter, Brussels, 4 Janu…
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
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Description
Eugène YSAŸE (1858–1931). Autograph letter, Brussels, 4 January 1910, to the violinist Jacques Thibaud; 8 pages, in-8. A magnificent and amusing letter from the great violinist to his pupil, on the art of playing the violin. He humorously discusses the state of concert societies in Brussels, regretting that Thibaud had ventured ‘into a draughty house!… That retreat for one-eyed concerts has, incidentally, disappeared; it was swept away at birth by an infectious deficit, a diarrhoea of capital accompanied by acute Perronnithe; the unfortunate practitioner who treated this symphonic wreck is currently avoiding the ‘Damned Winds’ in the state prisons; the third partner, also infected, hanged himself quite recently with your chanterelle. Moreover, the owners of Patria have flooded their hall with the most potent disinfectants and, thank heaven, we were able to escape the contagion; no echo remains of this epidemic music, and our Beethoven, convalescing but battered, will be able to make a full recovery from this misstep which nearly cost him his health and the high regard he enjoyed before his… error! My affection for you, my dearest Jacques, is unwavering […] For the year that has just begun, I wish the beloved quartet, first and foremost, the very best of health; the rest lies in your fingers, in your hard work too, and in the satisfaction of feeling that you are making progress; the more I go on, the more I realise just how difficult the art of playing the violin is, and how much thought, willpower and tenacity are required for the hands and the mind to exist in perfect harmony, in stable equilibrium: the mind, the spirit, of course, must dominate the physical; the mind must lead, but the ten warriors must be ready for the onslaught, for heroism, for lively, spontaneous action; the fingers command, determine the boldness, and it is marvellous when the two powers act in unison; – the mind is the earth, the fingers are the flowers, and I always remember the lovely scent of your bouquet. When I play, I over-analyse and the pleasure turns to bitterness; when I listen to you, Cazals, Kreisler, it seems to me that my ears are nothing but heart; I enjoy a happiness without harshness, without admixture – how I love the violin then! How well I understand that it has the power to move the soul, to captivate the crowds!...” He does not know when they will meet again; Thibaud is in Brussels whilst Ysaÿe is on tour in Italy and Switzerland. ‘We shall meet again in Paris, where I shall be happy to be at your disposal for anything that might be of use to you. If we can then bring together the members of the intimate quintet that left my hands and heart in tatters at your home last May, it will be a foretaste of our paradise to come. If you see Casals, tell him how much I love him, both as a man and as an artist; best wishes also to Cortot; and to you, my dear godson […] my most affectionate kisses.”
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part II
Auction location
Auction time 10/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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