Chapter 5, 8 February 1952
Title
Chapter 5, 8 February 1952
Subject
Nadia Boulanger
Creator
Igor Stravinsky
Date
8 February 1952
Source
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Type
Letter
Extracted Text
Stravinsky to Boosey & Hawkes
(original in English)
Dr. E. Roth
Director
Boosey & Hawkes Ltd.
295 Regent Street
London W. I. (England)
February 8, 1952
Dear Dr. Roth,
I have just received a letter from Nadia Boulanger whom I had asked to give me her opinion
about the French translation of the Rake’s.
Her answer is not too cheerful.
I understand that the French translation by this Mr. de Badet (by the way I have never understood
who commissioned him: you or the Grand Opéra?) in many instances is completely off and, still
worse, has led to some musical changes which completely erase the original rhythmical sense.
I know that some alterations are unavoidable but the result must not be complete nonsense, as the
case seems to be.
Please contact Miss Boulanger and ask her to handle the problem of straightening out the
mistakes herself. I cannot do it from here; time is running short and moreover Miss Boulanger is
at hand and perfectly aware of the situation. Till Monday, February 18th, she will be lecturing on
the Rake’s at the Monaco Palace, Principality of Monaco. Thereafter she will go back to her
regular address, 36 rue Ballu, Paris 9ème.
Sincerely,
IS
(original in English)
Dr. E. Roth
Director
Boosey & Hawkes Ltd.
295 Regent Street
London W. I. (England)
February 8, 1952
Dear Dr. Roth,
I have just received a letter from Nadia Boulanger whom I had asked to give me her opinion
about the French translation of the Rake’s.
Her answer is not too cheerful.
I understand that the French translation by this Mr. de Badet (by the way I have never understood
who commissioned him: you or the Grand Opéra?) in many instances is completely off and, still
worse, has led to some musical changes which completely erase the original rhythmical sense.
I know that some alterations are unavoidable but the result must not be complete nonsense, as the
case seems to be.
Please contact Miss Boulanger and ask her to handle the problem of straightening out the
mistakes herself. I cannot do it from here; time is running short and moreover Miss Boulanger is
at hand and perfectly aware of the situation. Till Monday, February 18th, she will be lecturing on
the Rake’s at the Monaco Palace, Principality of Monaco. Thereafter she will go back to her
regular address, 36 rue Ballu, Paris 9ème.
Sincerely,
IS
Stravinsky to Boosey & Hawkes
(original in English)
Dr. E. Roth
Director
Boosey & Hawkes Ltd.
295 Regent Street
London W. I. (England)
February 8, 1952
Dear Dr. Roth,
I have just received a letter from Nadia Boulanger whom I had asked to give me her opinion
about the French translation of the Rake’s.
Her answer is not too cheerful.
I understand that the French translation by this Mr. de Badet (by the way I have never understood
who commissioned him: you or the Grand Opéra?) in many instances is completely off and, still
worse, has led to some musical changes which completely erase the original rhythmical sense.
I know that some alterations are unavoidable but the result must not be complete nonsense, as the
case seems to be.
Please contact Miss Boulanger and ask her to handle the problem of straightening out the
mistakes herself. I cannot do it from here; time is running short and moreover Miss Boulanger is
at hand and perfectly aware of the situation. Till Monday, February 18th, she will be lecturing on
the Rake’s at the Monaco Palace, Principality of Monaco. Thereafter she will go back to her
regular address, 36 rue Ballu, Paris 9ème.
Sincerely,
IS
(original in English)
Dr. E. Roth
Director
Boosey & Hawkes Ltd.
295 Regent Street
London W. I. (England)
February 8, 1952
Dear Dr. Roth,
I have just received a letter from Nadia Boulanger whom I had asked to give me her opinion
about the French translation of the Rake’s.
Her answer is not too cheerful.
I understand that the French translation by this Mr. de Badet (by the way I have never understood
who commissioned him: you or the Grand Opéra?) in many instances is completely off and, still
worse, has led to some musical changes which completely erase the original rhythmical sense.
I know that some alterations are unavoidable but the result must not be complete nonsense, as the
case seems to be.
Please contact Miss Boulanger and ask her to handle the problem of straightening out the
mistakes herself. I cannot do it from here; time is running short and moreover Miss Boulanger is
at hand and perfectly aware of the situation. Till Monday, February 18th, she will be lecturing on
the Rake’s at the Monaco Palace, Principality of Monaco. Thereafter she will go back to her
regular address, 36 rue Ballu, Paris 9ème.
Sincerely,
IS
Files
Collection
Citation
Igor Stravinsky , “Chapter 5, 8 February 1952,” Digital Exhibits, accessed April 26, 2024, https://digex.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/show/2682.
Item Relations
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