PRIVAS (Xavier, real name Antoine Taravel, 1863-1927, French poet, song writer and dramatic author)

Autograph postcard signed, in French with translation, to M. and Mme. Georges Wague, who are on holiday off the Breton coast, saying "thank you for the pleasant news about Mlle. Desgraves ... Have a good rest ... Bravo on your great success at the Ba-ta-Clan ['The whole boiling lot', the café-chantant in the Blvd. Voltaire]", with affectionate regards from Francine and himself, "I gave a talk on Pierrot at Lyon at the Hôtel de la Chanson" and "spoke of you in brotherly fashion", on 2 sides, the postcard shows the island in the Rhône at St Rambert l'Ile Barbe, from St. Martin du Fresne, Ain, 20th September

Privas began singing in the wine vaults of his native Lyon, then moved to the cabarets of Paris, including the famous Chat Noir. His songs have a tender strength and imagery in every couplet that sets them apart - he sang at the piano to his own words and music, while Wague, as Pierrot, or Francine Lorée, as Columbine, performed a 'cantomime'. In 1898 he started the Cabaret des Arts in Montmartre, and in 1899 was elected 'prince des poëtes-chansonniers' by fellow artistes. See Laurent Tailhade's account prefixed to the 'Chansons Sentimentales', 1906.

Item Date:  1911

Stock No:  51508      £75

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