Charles LECOCQ (1832-1918). L.A.S., November 9, 1910 ;4pages - Lot 39

Charles LECOCQ (1832-1918). L.A.S., November 9, 1910 ;4pages in-8 (edge of 2nd f. a little frayed). On La Fille de Madame Angot, given in Toulouse with an excellent cast: "A good Pitou and a good Melle Lange are hard to find in the provinces and even in Paris. To great regret, Pitou is played by a baritone, for lack of a light tenor, which destroys the vocal balance of the work; and as for Melle Lange [...] it is given to the second singer, still called a Dugazon in the provinces". Asked which of the two roles of Clairette and Melle Lange was the principal one, he replied "that these roles are equally important, and that each should be given to the artist who combines the special qualities of the character she is to portray [...] I was careful not to talk about physical qualities, although I have seen, in Paris itself, a long, slender Clairette giving the line to a pudgy, tiny Lange. One was the needle and the other the ball"... Attached is a L.A.S., December 26, 1903, to Paul Gravollet, returning his unsuitable little act: "for the Opéra-Comique, if I am ever to be performed there, I would prefer something more up-tempo and where I could better assert the qualities that have made me a success elsewhere"... (3p. in-8, envelope).