Léon Delafosse

Léon Delafosse pictured with Marcel Proust, and others

Delafosse was born poor. His mother was a concierge, who also taught him piano as a child.[5] 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.[6] He subsequently became the protégé of the poet Robert de Montesquiou (1855-1921),[7] 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;[8] they became friends, and he set one of Proust's poems, "Mensonges" (Lies) to music.[2][5] Delafosse dedicated compositions to both Montesquiou and Proust. Montesquiou called him "The lion of the piano".[6] 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".[9]

Delafosse was known for his interpretations of Chopin[3] and Lizst.[6] 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.[6][10]