VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. Rare A.L.S., `Voltaire´, one page, 4to, Chateau de Ferney, 30th March, 1761, to the comedians performing his works, in French. An unusual letter by Voltaire deeply thanking and congratulating the comedians, stating `Je prie Messieurs les comédiens du Roy qui me font l´honneur de représenter mes ouvrages de vouloir bien se préter aux arrangements des roles que qu´on leur présentera de ma part, en les remerciant de leur zele, des soins don't ils m´honorent et en les assurant de l´estime infinie que j´ay pour leurs talents et du regret que j´ay de n´en etre pas le témoin et de ne leur pas témoigner de bouche les sentiments avec lesquels j´ay l´honneur d´etre leur tres humble et tres obeisant serviteur. Voltaire´ (“I kindly ask the comedians of the King who do me the honour of representing my works to kindly lend themselves to the arrangements of the roles that will be presented to them on my behalf, thanking them for their zeal, the care with which they honour me and assuring them of the infinite esteem that I have for their talents and of the regret that I have of not being the witness and of not testifying to them face to face the feelings with which I have the honour to be their very humble and very obedient servant. Voltaire”) VG

 

Voltaire addresses the present letter to the comedians troupe of the Comédie Française, thanking them for performing his works. Only few months earlier, during the summer 0f 1760, they had premiered his play L´Ecossaise. Lekain was the stage name of the most highly regarded actor by Voltaire, who had made his debut at the Comedie in 1750 in Voltaire's "Brutus".

There are few poets who have brought to the execution of their works as much care as Voltaire. When the latter wrote a tragedy, he settled in advance the movements of each character, the diction of each tirade. The actors had only to follow the abundant advice that the author gave them. Being in Paris, he directed himself the rehearsals, and, not content with giving an indication to the artist, he joined the example.

Voltaire wouldn´t stop to achieve perfection; when he played at Ferney, as Abbé Duvernet recounts, he used to the days when he was to appear in a playwright, walk in the morning in his gardens, sometimes in costume as Knight, sometimes in the Greek style, sometimes as a pontiff. He alternately showed to his astonished gardeners his characters. He was getting used to wear the costume of the character to be represented.

Voltaire, referring to the actors, stated “They have all the gifts of nature, great intelligence, diligent work, an imperturbable memory, and above all this rare art of transforming oneself into the person that one represents”, and concludes “It is an art that requires so many qualities, and in which it is difficult to achieve perfection, and do not give it up to other arts. Sometimes it is even superior to them… It is therefore an injustice and even a mark of ignorance to consider the theatrical art as secondary or inferior art.