From the Archives: Félicien-César David

(Cadenet, Vaucluse, 13 April 1810 – Saint Germain-en-Laye, 29 August, 1876)

Letter to the pianist Henri Louis Stanislaus Mortier de Fontaine (1816-1883), from the album of autograph letters by famous composers which was donated by Thyra Christiane Lange (1868-1934, Member 00266). 

Included within the achive is a short letter from the French composer Félicien David to the pianist, composer and arranger Henri Louis Stanislaus Mortier de Fontaine (1816-1883), written in French. David had a curious and tricky start in life, with various different strands, teachers, and interests. 1844 was, however, a pivotal year for David with the success of his “ode-symphonie” Le desert, first performed on 8 December and which set a new trend. The genre of the work was entirely different, with a recitation at the start and composed for soloists and male-voice choir. The subject of orientalism was to be taken up by many other French composers in the following years.

The Polish pianist had obviously corresponded with David in the hope of securing his performance of a ‘symphonie’ on 31 May but David replies (27 May) that he has only just started on a concert tour and won’t be able to be in Dresden at the end of the month. The letter reveals that he is in Berlin, will travel and perform in Leipzig, and that he would certainly be pleased to make the acquaintance of Mortier de Fontaine when he does reach Dresden.