Henri Dutilleux pleased with the critical reception of his Métaboles

This letter from composer Henri Dutilleux, dated June 6, 1965, is addressed to Georges Léon, music critic for the newspaper L'Humanité. A major 20th-century French composer, trained at the Paris Conservatory, he gratefully acknowledges the glowing review he has just given to his Métaboles, a work for orchestra premiered the previous year under the direction of Georges Szell. He is delighted that his friend so aptly grasped his musical intentions, despite only hearing it once, and expresses his hope that future performances will confirm this favorable assessment. He announces his intention to send this review to Georges Szell so that he can compare it with the decidedly less flattering one published in France Soir the day after the second concert, whose author, in a fit of "immeasurable stupidity," dared to mention the Viet Cong. This letter, mixing sincere gratitude and biting irony, reveals a Dutilleux who is demanding, sensitive to the support of his peers and quick to denounce critical mediocrity.

"Paris, June 6, 1965"

My dear Georges, 

Three days of rather hectic activity prevented me from telling you all the joy I felt upon reading your beautiful review and from thanking you, other than by a simple phone call, for having made these "Metaboles" the basis of your article.

This proves to me that you have perfectly understood my intentions, based on just one hearing. May future performances confirm your impression! 

All "Metaboles" aside, I am pleased to be able to forward your review to Georges Szell. He will no doubt compare your article—published in "l'Humanité"—with the "review" published in "France Soir" the day after his second concert. The author, carried away by his immeasurable stupidity, even goes so far as to mention the Viet Cong—which is rather unexpected, isn't it?

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, my dear Georges, for your unwavering support. Yours very cordially, Henri Dutilleux