Letter 42

Bizet to his mother

J.J. [= 7 Jan?] Rome, 1859

Dear Mama,

Our greetings crossed, so I got yours at just about the time you got mine. May all our wishes be granted, then we’ll have nothing to complain about. You give me good news of your health, for both of you, for which I’m delighted. Let's hope the year continues the same.

Our increase is now definite. It's for 360 francs a year, that's a franc a day. It's not much, but it's enough. Now I’ll be able to do some travelling. My excellent and much-regretted friend Vaudremer left yesterday. He’ll be in Paris by the end of January. You’ll get a visit from him in three weeks. I’ve written to Hector, to Albert, to John, to M. Houdart, and I’ll write to Marmontel so that he gets my letter on his name-day. I’ll write to L’Épine too. He's someone I tremendously like in every respect. The way his mind works, his artistic tastes and marvellous musical gifts make me always want to be with him. So tell Papa I’ll soon do what he asks.

Mme Guillemin has recently had a serious setback. I’m worried about the winter, since the end is evidently near. It's a great calamity because she was an adorable woman. M. and Mme Chevreux have aged ten years since I met them; it's an enormous blow for them, the like of which I have never known.

I still have no news from Gounod and the Zimmerman family. I’m waiting for Faust. If it's a success, Gounod immediately takes first place. Let's hope so! As for Hector, I say again, I am completely confident of his success.