Three Autograph Letters to Alexander Siloti and his Daughter, on the Occasion of His Birthday and Subsequent Death

Striking and intimate trio of three Autograph Letters Signed from the influential French composer, conductor and pedagogue including one to the celebrated Russian pianist, composer, conductor, and teacher Alexander Siloti on the occasion of his birthday, and two to his daughter Kyriena Siloti (1895–1989), herself a pianist and teacher, including a touching note of condolences following the elder Siloti's passing.  Overall in fine condition.  Approx. 7.5 x 4.5 inches (11.3 x 19 cm.) each.

The letter to Alexander (10 October 1944; 2 pp. on Featherhill Ranch of Santa Barbara, California stationary) reads, translated from the French, "To those of us who love you and admire you, today's date, the 10th of October, has great significance.  It gives us occasion to send you testaments of the feelings we carry for you always - albeit in silence.  Today we are allowed, are we not, to tell you again what you are, that which you yourself belittle, the substance you bring to your art and the values in which you believe, the source of energy and courage and unstoppable joy.  Along with these wishes, I send you such gratitude, such veneration, and such affection to your very depths. / Believe me, dear sir and great friend, / your / Nadia Boulanger."

The first letter to Kyriena (undated; 1 p. on stationary with Boulanger's address "36 Rue Ballu / Paris IX" printed to the upper right corner) was written on the occasion of Alexander's death.  Boulanger writes, translated from the French, "Dear Kyriena / what grief - great, profound!  I loved Sacha - his death causes me much pain - I understand yours, I embrace you and feel close to you, to Sascha - and to your parents - the journey is short - and soon - for us too. /  Your Nadia Boulanger."  Pencil marks to margins, overall in fine condition.  A final, undated later (1 p.; du Palais Monaco) wishes Kyriena a happy Easter.  Expected mailing folds, in fine condition.

A force in the world of classical music in the early twentieth century, Boulanger was the first woman to conduct a number of major orchestras, including the London and Boston Philharmonic.  In 1938, she became the first woman to lead the New York Philharmonic in a performance at Carnegie Hall, Antonia Brico having conducted a performance at Lewisohn Stadium earlier in the same year.  After her first performance with the Boston Philharmonic, a reporter asked Boulanger how it felt to be the first woman to lead the ensemble.  She replied, "I have been a woman for a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment."

One of the most celebrated pianists/pedagogues of the late 19th century, Siloti was a student of Nikolay Rubinstein, Taneyev and Tschaikovsky in Moscow before moving to Weimar to study with Liszt. He returned to teach at the Moscow Conservatory in 1887, where among his students, was his cousin - Sergei Rachmaninoff. He toured frequently, gave important premieres of works by Debussy, Elgar, Glazunov, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin, Sibelius and Stravinsky and was Tchaikovsky's trusted editor, especially for the first and second piano concertos. Later, Siloti settled in New York, where he taught, among others, Marc Blitzstein and Eugene Istomin. (20192)

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Autograph Letter

Classical Music

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