Alfred BRUNEAU (1857-1934). 30 L.A.S., 1889-1896, to Louis Gallet; 36pages various sizes, some letterheads (Choudens, Hôtel Mathis in London, Hôtel de la Poste in Brussels), some addresses. To the librettist of his operas after Émile Zola: Le Rêve and L'Attaque du Moulin. Bruneau began working on Le Rêve in 1889, in close collaboration with Zola, and with Gallet, to whom he gradually sent the musical material. September 2, 1889: "Our visit to Médan gave me good courage, and I'm going to get back to work with great pleasure"... December 31, 1889: "I'm moving forward with great ardor and hope. I don't know if my music is worthy of the poem, but I have the conscience to make an effort and to give it a go"... May 31 [1890], talks with Choudens; Zola "agrees with me that the sum of 40,000frs offered by Choudens should be spread over one hundred performances"... April 1891: Zola has seen the model and finds that "the Cathedral is too small. It's a bishopric. This is his only recommendation". He involved Gallet in the choice of performers: "I need your authority and experience to defend our Dream. I still think that all our efforts should be focused on the character of Angélique, who alone will decide the success of the battle. It's the only role in our work that imperiously requires a true, curious and interesting artist"... Le Rêve was successfully premiered at the Opéra-Comique on June 18, 1891, with subsequent performances in London (October 27, 1891) and Brussels, where Zola and Gallet were to join Alfred Bruneau. In September 1891, Bruneau set to work on Attaque du Moulin, sending Gallet the first act: "I find it absolutely fine the way it is. The roundness is more precise, and Marceline's tirade will give it a beautiful lyrical development. Your first scenes are also very, very good. Zola is delighted and I'm delighted" (September 27). July 11, 1893. He corrects the proofs of the orchestral score, and their work is given a prominent place in the Opéra-Comique season program; "Carvalho has found us a most curious and remarkable Françoise [Georgette Leblanc] whose beauty, talent, voice and temperament will certainly cause a sensation. I can't wait for you to hear her". L'Attaque du Moulin premiered on November 23, 1893. We enclose a L.A.S. from A. Bruneau, January 1, 1906, to an actor, asking him to come and read a piece from Zola's work at the tribute evening organized by the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme, under the presidency of Anatole France; and a long letter from Et. Thibault, former professor at Sydney University (January 20, 1894) expressing his enthusiasm for the work of the "Master of Masters" (Zola), and that of Bruneau, and proposing to do an English adaptation of L'Attaque du Moulin.