Draft of a letter from Maurice Ravel to Guido Gatti, the editor of the music magazine La Rassegna Musicale, concerning the Chansons madécasses (Madeleine Songs), which were to be performed at the Florence Festival.
The Chansons madécasses were premiered by Jane Bathori (1877-1970) in 1925, but it was the singer Madeleine Grey (1896-1979) who first recorded them, under Ravel's own direction, for the Polydor label in September 1932.
Now, Ravel has just learned that Madeleine Grey, who was…
Read moreDraft of a letter from Maurice Ravel to Guido Gatti, the director of the musical magazine La Rassegna Musicale, relating to the Chansons madécasses, which are to be performed at the Florence festival.
The Madagascan Songs were created by Jane Bathori (1877-1970) in 1925, but it was the singer Madeleine Grey (1896-1979) who first recorded them, under the direction of Ravel himself, for the Polydor company, in September 1932.
However, Ravel had just learned that Madeleine Grey, who had been chosen to perform them at the Florence festival, had been replaced by another singer. Perhaps the fact that she was Jewish played a role in this decision.
"I have just learned that Madeleine Grey, who had been chosen to sing the Madagascan Songs at the Florence Festival, is to be replaced by another singer: I am very sorry about that.".
The following paragraph is largely crossed out: "Indeed, [since Bathori's perfect creation, many years ago], this very difficult work [has been taken up by many artists, and not the least of them]: none, except MG, has rendered its character so faithfully. It is this work that I recently designated when Polydor asked me to record these 3 pieces, leaving me the choice of performers.".
If you consider the preference I give to this one among my works, you will understand that I wish for its execution to be as close as possible to my design. I still hope that the jury will reconsider its decision, for which I would be infinitely grateful. Believe me, dear Mr. Gatti, in my warmest regards.
Maurice Ravel added in the margin: "Copy", the letter having subsequently been typed
Provenance: formerly in the Jacques Lebeau collection
Maurice Ravel. Correspondence, writings and interviews. Edition established, presented and annotated by Manuel Cornejo (Gallimard, 2025). Volume 2, pp. 1945-1946, letter no. 2634.
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