Léo DELIBES (1836-1931). 5 L.A.S., [1876-1879 and s.d.], to various; 17 pages in-8 or in-12. About his ballet Sylvia and his operas. Clichy-la-Garenne [1876?], to librettist Jules Barbier, after a mood swing... "at the beginning of next week I will make arrangements with Reinach to come and ask you for hospitality, and I hope at the same time to be able to play you a good part of our last act [Sylvia?]"... - Saturday [1876?], to publisher Henri Heugel, about his ballet Sylvia ou la Nymphe de Diane. He doesn't move from his worktable and is "frightened by the task I have set myself, to orchestrate in 2 ½ months, 3 large acts! But under no circumstances do I want to be the cause of an hour's delay"... The next day sees the double audition of Lauwers and Mlle Fauvelle, "who is being considered for the role of Diane [...] Your opinion would carry a great deal of weight over mine, which is always so indecisive; and this is a capital question!"... Paris February 3 [1879], to his Viennese friend Felix, asking for news from Vienna, and asking him to remove Le Roi l'a dit from the "ruins of the Komische Oper" to take it to the Opéra. "He mentions the great success of Le Petit Duc: "From an artistic and purely musical point of view, I must hate it [...] Has Rheingold been performed here? Now that's serious!"... - Saint-Germain September 23 [1879], to the singer Juliette Bilbaut-Vauchelet, about her role in Jean de Nivelle, with a postscript by the librettist Philippe Gille (autographed photograph of the singer attached). - 1879, to Henri Heugel?], about Jean de Nivelle and the cast he discussed with Carvalho, Ph. Gille and Gondinet...