MASSENET JULES: (1842-1912) French Composer. A very fine A.L.S., `J. Massenet´, two pages, written to the first and third pages, 8vo, Paris, 2nd March 1884, in French. Massenet sends an urgent message to his correspondent, referring to the rehearsals of his opera Manon, and stating in part `Je vous en prie, un mot au sujet des dates des dernières répétitions, de la générale, et de la première représentation du `Manon´, j´ai un besoin urgent d´être renseigné pour combiner mon voyage. Je suis à Paris, pour quelques heures. J´attends votre aimable réponse´ (Translation: `I beg you a word about the dates for the last rehearsals, the dress rehearsal, and the premiere of Manon, I need urgent information to schedule my trip. I am in Paris, for few hours. I wait for your kind response´) Further and before concluding, Massenet adds `Dites-moi les dates probables et ne les fixez pas `exprès´ trop tôt – j´ai besoin de temps cette semaine !... Vous me connaissez – je suis exact´ (Translation: `Tell me the most likely dates and do not schedule them `on purpose´ too soon – I need time this week !... You know me…´) VG

Massenet refers to his most popular opera Manon (1884), an opera comique in five acts, based on the novel Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prevost. It was premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 19th January 1884, two weeks after the present letter was written.