The literary soirée given by M. Marcel Proust was a true artistic
delight. Mlle Laparcerie after having been enthusiastically received for
her rendition of unpublished poems by Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles and M.
Anatole France, gave the first performance of the beautiful verses by
Comte Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac, which will be on sale next month. In
the intimate audience:
Comtesse M. de Noailles, Comtesse de Briey, Comtesse N. Potocka, Mme de
Brantes, Baron Edmund de Rothschild, Baronne Deslandes, Mme E. Strauss [sic],
Marquis de Castellane, Prince Giovanni Borghèse, Mme Léon Fould, Comte M.
de Gontaut-Biron, MM. Anatole France, Jean Béraud, Charles Ephrussi, and
Comte Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac, who carried off a double triumph as
both author and exquisite speaker, having himself recited, at the request
of the guests, several of his poems.
Le Monde et la Ville, Le Figaro, 26 April 1899,
signed Ferrari.
This review was certainly instigated and quite probably written by
Proust to atone for the one published in Le Figaro the
previous day which made no mention either of Montesquiou or his
forthcoming book. See Corr, t.2, pp. 286-287.
Very amusing party, yesterday evening, at the home of M. Marcel Proust.
In attendance:
Comtesse Potocka, Mme de Brantes, Marquise d'Eyragues, Mmes Madeleine
Lemaire, Emile Strauss [sic], Arman de Caillavet, Cahen
d'Anvers, Bailby and notable figures from the worlds of science,
literature and art.
A great success was enjoyed by Mlle Laparcerie, who recited wonderfully
the poetry of Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles and M. Anatole France, in
both of whose honour this reception was given.
Le Figaro, 25 April 1899.
Created 26.11.18