Montesquiou's salon
M. Bagès sang yesterday with a masterful and delightful
grace, at the house of count Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac,
melodies by M. Léon Delafosse that had been inspired by six
pieces from Chauves-souris into which seems to have
passed the melancholy and extraordinary spirit that animates
these erudite, heart-breaking and charming verses.
The music, unaffected and subtle like
the poetry with which it is at one in substance and feeling,
imitates with unique and manifold charms its spontaneous surges
and thoughtful reprises. One regrets upon hearing it that over
use has robbed the word "exquisite" of its value, and
has made it almost sordid otherwise one would have willingly
applied it in all its value and its wholly new magnificence.
Also the most sympathetic admirers of M. de
Montesquiou will be favourable to these "sonorous
waves" in which are reflected with a semi-miraculous
exactness the uncertain and gentle flight of Chauves-souris.
La Presse,
2 June 1894, unsigned but written by Proust.