Item 49 - Letter to Beaton

Autograph letter signed Henri in French to Beaton from Fargues (France). Received this morning Beaton's letter of the 12th confirming reception of the musical score. Thinks his prosody mistakes can be amended easily. Thought the sailor's song was to be recorded and so replaced the guitar with the harp. A singer would be needed to interpret it. If he has to sing on stage, a guitarist would have to accompany him on stage. Sauguet questions the necessity of this, as complicated and expensive. There will be a flute's theme for the countess' entrance and a oboe theme for the young lord's entrance. Onstage accompaniment is a convention so Sauguet doesn't understand why one instrument is more plausible than five, but will comply to the director's wishes. He is ready to come to London for the recording as soon as Beaton needs him. Thinks everything can be recorded in two or three hours. He can come one or two days earlier to have the singers rehearse. Insists that Beaton must have the musical and vocal parts copied. The small prosody mistakes must be explained to the singers. The shouts shouldn't be sung, they must be natural, like street shouts, while remaining poetic. Insists that Beaton should fix a date for the recording and let him know as soon as possible.