Calvocoressi, M.D. Musicians Gallery: Music and Ballet in Paris and London.

London, Faber & Faber, [1933].
8vo, port. 320 pp., ill.

In original red cloth. With dust jacket in fair condition.
Near good condition, price-clipped jacket, losses to dj edges and spine, dj rubbed, somewhat dust-soiled and foxed to dj and some pages, sunning to cloth edges.

First edition.

This memoir by Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi (1877–1944), a distinguished French-born music critic and writer, offers a captivating account of his influential role in European music circles.
Calvocoressi reflects on his career, which began in Paris during a vibrant era of musical innovation and continued in London, including his service in British Intelligence during World War I.
The book highlights celebrated artists such as Grieg, Schönberg, Debussy, Rimsky-Korsakov, Erik Satie, and others. It also features prominent figures like Pavlova, Nijinsky, and Chaliapin,with significant chapters dedicated to the Russian Opera and Ballet. Calvocoressi provides revealing insights into Diaghilev's early work and the inner workings of the Ballets Russes, along with personal reflections on composer Maurice Ravel. The memoir extends beyond music, delving into unexpected topics, including the author's intimate knowledge of writer Arnold Bennett.