58 - CLOSTRE (Adrienne) (1921–2006).

CLOSTRE (Adrienne) (1921–2006). French composer. Important signed autograph letter regarding her opera *Le Chant du Cygne*, its public reception, and her collaboration with Mstislav Rostropovich and the Orchestre Radio-Lyrique. Serrières (Ardèche), July 9, 1964. Autograph letter signed “Adrienne Clostre,” 3 pages in-8, in black ink, addressed to a music critic, following the publication of an article in the newspaper *L’Humanité*. A beautiful and moving thank-you letter in which the composer expresses her deep gratitude for the reception given to her work *Le Chant du Cygne*, inspired by Chekhov. Adrienne Clostre writes from Serrières, while accompanying her young granddaughters to the Ardèche. She warmly thanks her correspondent for the article he has just written about her opera: “I regret that practical concerns have prevented me until now from expressing my warmest and most sincere thanks to you. I would have liked, as soon as I arrived, to tell you how deeply moved I was by your profound understanding of my work and by the sincerity evident throughout your article.” She then reflects on the emotion she felt during the performance: “I must say that my greatest joy, at the end of last Thursday’s concert, was to feel that a work written with all my heart, all my thoughts—in short, my whole self—had truly moved those who were listening. ” The composer emphasizes the importance of the audience’s reception and pays tribute to the performers who contributed to this success: “I know that Chekhov deserves much of the credit for the audience’s emotional response—Chekhov... as well as to Marcel Vigneron, P.-M. Le Conte, and the Radio-Lyrique Orchestra. They all worked with such dedication and such a commitment to perfection that *Le Chant du Cygne* could not have been presented under better conditions. ” She concludes by referring to the hopes raised by this performance: “Finally, all that remains for me is to… work, since many have placed ‘great hope’ in me. Thursday’s evening was a great encouragement to me, further reinforced by your very warm article. » This correspondence offers a particularly interesting personal account of 20th-century French musical creation, the relationships between composers, performers, and music critics, as well as the reception of a contemporary opera. Adrienne Clostre (1921–2006), a student of Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen, was a French composer whose body of work includes operas, orchestral compositions, and chamber music. She was particularly dedicated to setting literary and dramatic texts to music, including those by Anton Chekhov. *Le Chant du Cygne*, inspired by Chekhov’s work, holds a significant place in her career as a composer. This letter offers a firsthand account of the artist’s feelings following a performance of this work and the importance she placed on its critical reception. An interesting musical letter with particularly detailed content, combining opera, Chekhov, performance, and music criticism. Good overall condition. Old creases, slight signs of handling, and some minor creases in the margins. Handwriting is clearly legible; the autograph signature is underlined.