Showing 12 results

St Cloud. - Trevelyan is very kind to send a ticket for the 'Salle des Agriculteurs' in Paris: he and his sister will be very happy to go and cheer Trevelyan's friends, of great artistic renown, [Adila Fachiri and Jelly d'Arányi], though Madame Greslé is still in the south of France. Will write after the concert to let him know how it went. His sister is going to sing in Valenciennes and Denain this week. Adds a postscript to say that the postcard shows the house of friends, where he has come on holiday.

Sent to Trevelyan at the Shiffolds, forwarded to him c/o Mr Hunt, 18 Dorset Square, Baker St, W. - Has come to this province for the first time and it is very interesting for its character, customs, language, history, sea, mountains and inhabitants; everything is joyful and lively like the sun. They play Basque pelota, which is a pastime of elegance and the players are marvellous to see; they dance the fandango, which is very picturesque when performed in the public square of a little village. Is holidaying with his sister and Magde Greslé, staying with Magde's mother. All best wishes to Trevelyan, his wife, and child.

St Cloud. - Thanks to the workers, who have brought them this holiday [the first May Day], he can write to Trevelyan. Has just looked out of the window: all the shops, cafés and businesses are shut; there are a few walkers despite the rain, who seem 'astonished... by this extraordinary rest'. Does not know what is happening in Paris: everything is calm here, but perhaps things are more disturbed in Place de la Concorde; will know tomorrow, as there are no newspapers today, [in an article appearing] between two related stories: one about the financiers in London, the other about the dinner of Count Brockdorff-Rantzau the [German] ambassador.

Feels as if he is talking to Trevelyan, despite the time and distance between them: has continued to think often and sympathetically about him, and is very glad to have met him in Paris due to a 'romantic idea of Geoffrey' [Hardern]: is also grateful for the friendship of that young man, who made a surprise visit to them last Sunday, He is at Dole, with his fiancée, and promised to visit when he returns. Gicquel's sister, with whom he often talks about Trevelyan, greatly appreciated Geoffrey's 'beautiful nature', and was also pleased to see him again. She and their parents send warm regards to Trevelyan. Madame [Magdeleine] Greslé is in Lisbon: her journey to Spain and Portugal was 'very rudimentary' in terms of comfort, and she wrote to Marguerite Gicquel that she found herself very far away and almost lost: hopes she does not flee [?] into a 'new revolution'.

Trevelyan is back as head of the family after his long months away: Gicquel greatly appreciates the work he has accomplished and the role he has played during the war, and his services as well as those his friends are still rendering are invaluable. Trevelyan can now live happily, proud of the labour he has accomplished, with his wife and child among all his books in his beautiful countryside. Sends all his best wishes to Madame Trevelyan. Counts on seeing the likeable [Francis] Birrell soon; he must be about to return [to France]. If Trevelyan sees him before his departure, asks him to let him know how pleased Gicquel will be to see him again in Paris; also asks Trevelyan to write when he has a moment.

Was very sorry that Trevelyan did not come to Versailles on Sunday: the front, all gilded, was 'splendid to see under the autumn sun'. Thinks that Trevelyan will have enjoyed his afternoon at the concert, however; asks whether the programme was good. It has been agreed that they will go to hear their friend [Magdeleine Greslé] sing Debussy on 10 November; if Geoffrey [Hardern] has returned his presence would add to the charm of the occasion. Has had no news from him, though he promised to write. Has a little flu at the moment, so is 'in fashion'. Asks if they can put off their next meeting until next week: they could go to hear Esape [?] at the Comédie-Française, so asks him to save that trip for him, and not to be enticed by de Banville.

St Cloud; addressed to Trevelyan at Hôtel Britannique, 20 Av[enue] Victoria. - Hopes that Trevelyan has returned satisfied with his journey. Will meet him as he did the other week next Thursday at the Palais-Royal metro station to go to Madame Greslé's house. Asks him to let Geoffrey [Hardern], if he is in Paris, know; received a letter from Geoffrey yesterday, dated 15 November from Manchester, which said he would definitely be in Paris tomorrow (Thursday) with his sister. Félix has written to Geoffrey at rue de Rivoli, but also at his request to him in England; thinks Geoffrey could not have got his letter before his departure, as he himself only got Geoffrey's yesterday. Asks Trevelyan if he has discovered whether Hirth [?] is a 'monsieur or a madame'. Will be glad to see him again on Thursday. Sends his regards to [Francis] Birrell.

St Cloud, 1 Rue Royale; addressed to Trevelyan at the Mission Anglo-Americaine, 53 rue de Rivoli, Paris. - Much enjoyed his evening with Trevelyan last night at the Théâtre Michel. His sister's friend [Magdeleine Greslé] is not singing on Sunday, as the conductor, M. Pierné, is ill; her appearance has been re-arranged for Sunday 10 November. Gicquel will wait for that day to go to the Salle Gaveau; asks Trevelyan to forgive him for not following up on that idea. Would like to go to Versailles on Sunday, and had touched on the plan with Geoffrey [Hardern]; asks if Trevelyan would like to come.

St Cloud. - His stay at the barracks was short-lived: is here again for a year. Is taking the chance of writing on the day of Trevelyan's departure for the South of France: if the letter arrives in time, wishes Trevelyan and his companions a good journey; if it is there on his return, welcomes him back. They will see each other again when he returns to Paris. Sorry not to have seen him last Thursday at the Salle Gaveau: Magde Greslé had a great success with her Russian melodies. His family send best wishes.

St Cloud. - Madame Greslé will be at home on Thursday, and will see Trevelyan with pleasure. Will meet Trevelyan and Geoffrey [Hardern] at five o'clock at the Palais-Royal metro station the evening of "Plus ça change" [revue by Rip]; they will go directly from home to their lovely friend's house. Was delighted to meet [Francis] Birrell. 'Here is the next peace!'. Wants to see Trevelyan 'again and again', so that when the Channel is between them once more, their friendship will be as strong as if there were no distance. His sister [Marguerite] will also be very happy to get to know Trevelyan, and will be at her friend [Madame Greslé]'s house. Adds a postscript with Madame Greslé's address in case by some accident he is unable to meet them and take them there.

St Cloud. - Their friend Magdeleine Greslé's concert next Sunday at the Salle Gaveau is advertised; would be very pleasant to see Trevelyan there; asks if he would like to meet at the Madeleine metro station at two. Of course, if the 'silent Geoffrey [Hardern]', whose 'persistent mutism astonishes and pains' him, is back, Félix would be very happy for him to join them.

Madrid. - Do not know whether they leave this evening for Malaga or whether Madame Greslé sings her first concert here tomorrow: these 'latin impresarios' are 'alarmingly nonchalant'. Is enchanted by the climate in Spain, and life is easy here.

1 Rue Royale, St. Cloud. - She and her friend [Magdeleine Greslé] thank Trevelyan for the information he has given them [on musical contacts in Britain, see 22/26], which her friend will put to use when she returns from Spain. Thinks Magdeleine's agent here, [Arthur] Dandelot, will happily get in contact with the person Trevelyan names, and Florent Schmitt or Ravel can write what they think of her. They leave on 10 January for Barcelona, then Bilbao, and she thinks Madrid at the end of the month, where Madame Greslé is giving one or two concerts; they will continue to Malaga where she is giving two concerts, and another in Madrid on the way back; is unsure of exact dates except from the concert at Barcelona, on 13 January. Knows Madame Greslé is singing Debussy's "La Damoiselle Elue", with [Fernandez] Arbos, but does not know where since the Spanish impresario is a fool, and 'one learns the news when one arrives in the cities [where the concerts are due to be]'. They received Trevelyan's letter of introduction to his friends 'with joy', but do not know if they will be able to profit from it. Thanks him for everything.

1 Rue Royale, St. Cloud (S[eine] et O[ise]. - Their friend Magdeleine Greslé has asked her to write to Trevelyan to ask if he could put her in touch with a British impresario, as she has a strong desire to sing in London, but Trevelyan is the only British person she knows. Will tell Trevelyan what Magdeleine has already done in her career in case he knows an impresario who could engage her for a series of concerts, or a few connoisseurs in London who could at least make her known there. Trevelyan knows how hard life is here, and that it is not possible to earn a living singing in Paris except in the theatre, which Magdeleine does not want to do; she takes a lively interest in the British musical scene, but unfortunately does not speak English; however, Trevelyan knows she could increase his compatriots' knowledge of the French, Italian, and Spanish musical scenes, also that of the Russians before Bolshevism. Magdeleine has sung here with the Colonne, Chevillard and Pasdeloup [orchestras] and various musical societies; she has also sung in Spain and will return there, and in Portugal; she only started her career two years ago. She is considered the best performer of Debussy. Is repeating what Trevelyan knows as well as she does, but he will excuse this 'panégyrique sincère' from a friend. The request is an 'hommage' to the memory which he has left with them. Hopes Trevelyan and his family are well. Her parents send their regards.