Léon Delafosse (1874 1951) was a French composer and pianist. His musical works included études, arabesques, waltzes and nocturnes. It has been claimed that he was the model for the character of Charles Morel, a violinist portrayed in Marcel Proust's novel In Search of Lost Time.
Delafosse was also painted as the subject of a portrait by John Singer Sargent.Fairbrother, Trevor, John Singer Sargent: The Sensualist, Yale University Press, 2000, , p. 412, note 7 The portrait currently resides in the Seattle Art Museum. Sargent had also dedicated "The Grand Canal Venice" to Delafosse, writing in the inscription "à Léon Delafosse en toute admiration et amitié".
Biography
Delafosse was born poor. His mother was a concierge, who also taught him piano as a child. Delafosse became a student of Antoine François Marmontel (1850-1907) at the Conservatoire de Paris. He gave his first recital at the age of seven, and won first prize at the Conservatoire at age 13. He subsequently became the protégé of the poet Robert de Montesquiou (1855-1921), the countess Metternich and the princess Rachel de Brancovan. He gave recitals, but also wrote compositions for piano, including Soirée d'amour (1895), Quintette des fleurs (1896), Mandolines à la Passante and Cinq Fantaisies, and a Concerto (1898) and a Konzertstück for piano and orchestra.
In 1894 he came into contact with Marcel Proust; they became friends, and he set one of Proust's poems, "Mensonges" (Lies) to music. Delafosse dedicated compositions to both Montesquiou and Proust. Montesquiou called him "The lion of the piano". Both writers would later distance themselves from Delafosse, making him no longer welcome in Parisian literary salons. When a friend suggested to Proust to organize a concert with Delafosse, Proust replied that he would rather not see him: "M. Delafosse, qu'il me serait peu agréable d'avoir chez moi".
Performances and compositions Delafosse was known for his interpretations of Chopin and Liszt. He often performed in the drawing room of Countess Saussine, and gave several private recitals at the Salle Érard in 1893/1894. In 1896 Delafosse gave a series of concerts in London with the famous Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe to a mixed reception.
Date PublishedNameSectionsDedicated to1895Les chauves-souris8Madeleine Lemaire, Madame la Comtesse de Saussine, Madame la Comtesse E. d'Avaray, M. Marcel Proust, M. Maurice Bagès1896Soirs d'amour6Sybil Sanderson 1897Quintette de fleurs5Madame la Comtesse Potocka1900Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre1Teresa Carreño1900Nocturne1la Princesse Bassaraba de Brancovan 19026 Etudes de concert6Madame Szarvady, Madame Beddington, Mr. Antonin Marmontel 1910Prelude in C minor1Monsieur Percy Grainger1910Arabesques51910Valse11911Barcarolle No.21Monsieur F. Held1912Offrandes61937Symphonie Pianistique5
Media Delafosse is the protagonist of the novel Charming Young Man by Eliot Schrefer.
References