Francis Poulenc - Correspondence - 1960

This is a unique Correspondence Signed by Francis Poulenc to the Countess Pecci- Blunt, written during 1960. Signed ''Francis''. Including 4 items, In French, in very good conditions. Perfectly readable, original envelope included. In details: Original b/w Poulenc's photo with autograph notes. On the front happy new year authograph notes and signature. On the back a short autograph letter signed. December, 24th, 1960. Autograph Postcard Signed. December, 23rd. Happy new year postcard. Autograph Letter Signed. Bagnols en Fôret, December, 9th 1960. One page, single-sided. On watermarled paper ''Hotel Paris''. Autograph Letter Signed. Bagnols en Fôret, Avril, 4th 1960. One page, single-sided. Greeting autographs, photo or postcards by the French pianist to the great ''Madame'' or ''Chérè Mimì'', the Countess Anna Laetitia Pecci Blunt. This lot delas with the rapid mouvements of an artist in growing success, of concerts and intellectual relationships with Duval or Ungaretti. From the other side, a volcanic woman that called artists from all over the world and organised literary presentations by writers like Cecchi, Moravia, Montale, lectures by Valéry and Mauriac. During the summer, cosmopolitan worldliness was at the grand villa of Marlia, during the winter in Aracoeli in Rome or at the Cometa Gallery in Rome, or unforgettable music night by Stravinskij, Petrassi, Milhaud, Honegger, Poulenc, Auric, Francis Poulenc, Alfret Cortot at her place in Paris. The background: In the same years of this correspondence, Francis Poulenc was promoting the opera for piano and orchestra La voix humaine, based on the same name by Jean Cocteau’s bocklet. Poulenc's tragédie lyrique was first performed at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6 February 1959, with the French soprano Denis Duval singing the female role and Georges Prêtre conducting; the scenery, costumes and direction were by Cocteau.The libretto consists of a woman's last phone conversation with her lover, who now loves someone else. During the call, the woman reveals that she has attempted suicide because her lover has abandoned her. The work has been frequently revived all over the world! Francis Poulenc (Paris, 1899 – 1963) The French pianist and composer wrote songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-known compositions tere are the piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919), the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928) for harpsichord and orchestra, the Organ Concerto (1938), the opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957), and the Gloria (1959) for soprano, choir and orchestra. Poulenc also made the acquaintance of Erik Satie, under whose tutelage he became one of a group of young composers known collectively as Les Six. Today he is still rememebered for his performing partnerships with the baritone Pierre Bernac and the soprano Denise Duval. He toured in Europe and America with both of them, and made a number of recordings as a pianist. He was among the first composers to see the importance of the gramophone. In his later years, and for decades after his death, Poulenc had a reputation, particularly in his native country, as a humorous, lightweight composer, and his religious music was often overlooked. In the 21st century, more attention has been given to his serious works, with many new productions of Dialogues des Carmélites and La voix humaine (his last opera based on Jean Cocteau’s text) worldwide, and numerous live and recorded performances of his songs and choral music.