POULENC (Francis). - Lot 259

POULENC (Francis). Born in Paris. 1899–1963. French composer and pianist. Autograph letter "FR" addressed to "Dear Stéphane" [Stéphane Audel, Belgian actor (1901–1984)]. Italy, February 20, 1962. One folio-sized page, letterhead of the “Brufani Palace Hotel in Perugia,” stamped envelope. ...The reason I haven’t written to you is that since late January I’ve had neuritis in my right arm. Miraculously, I was able to go on tour with Duval [the singer Denise Duval], but I’m still under contract to write *Entendu* on the 6th and 13th... He specifies that he’ll be back on the ...27th. Phone call. I’m all set for Proko [Sergei Prokofiev] and Igor [Stravinsky] ... He adds: ...Duval is a huge hit here...The charm, poise, and acting talent of the young soprano DENISE DUVAL (born in 1921), who had made her debut in the role of Madame Butterfly at the Opéra-Comique, immediately captivated Francis Poulenc. From this encounter sprang a friendship and a bond that would last until the composer’s death in January 1963. In 1960, Poulenc composed the song cycle *La Courte Paille* for her, based on poems by Maurice Carême. She premiered the female roles of Thérèse in *Les Mamelles de Tirésias* in 1947, Blanche de la Force in *Dialogues des carmélites* in 1957, the Woman in *La Voix humaine* in 1958, and the Lady of Monte Carlo in 1961