One of the most elegant matinées was held yesterday at La Bodinière,
between half past four and half past five.
On the programme, works by M. Reynaldo Hahn, wonderfully executed by
Mlle Horwitz, M. Engel, M. Risler, M. Diaz le Soria, M. Cortot and choir.
It was a great success for the engaging composer; he was applauded
enthusiastically along with his brilliant interpreters. The pieces that he
performed are, moreover, works of absolute beauty.
Next, Mlle Moreno recited with her great talent a "foretaste" from M.
Stéphane Mallarmé and Portraits de peintres by M. Marcel Proust.
These "portraits" were those of Albert Cuyp, Paulus Potter, Antoine Van
Dyck and Antoine Watteau.
M. Marcel Proust is the most exquisite of young poets, his "portraits"
are of a very beautiful composition with a charming turn of phrase; they
were received with genuine success.
After each of M. Marcel Proust's beautiful poems M. Risler performed
the small pieces that accompanied them with remarkable skill.
Noted among the select audience:
Princess Mathilde, Duchesse d'Uzès, Princesse de Polignac, Duchesse de
Brissac, Comtesse Potocka, Comtesse de Fitz-James, Comtesse de Guerne,
Marquise d'Eyragues née Montesquiou, Mme Madeleine Lemaire, Mme Louis
Stern, Mme Ganderax, Mme de Benardacki, Mme W. Blumenthal, Mme Alphonse
Daudet, Mme Legrand, Mme Hochon, Comte de Ségur, M. Caran d'Ache, M.
Diémer, M. Heugel, M. Madrazzo, etc., etc.
Le Gaulois, 22 April 1897.
Could this have been submitted by Proust himself, who was never
averse to a little self promotion? It is impossible to know. The account
in Le Figaro 24 April 1897 of the same performance does not mention
Proust nor Portraits de peintres, whereas in the Gaulois
Proust takes centre stage.
Created 23.01.24