Caplet and Le martyre de Saint Sébastien

January 1922 brought a flurry of correspondence between Emma and André Caplet. Her excitement had been roused by the visit of a secretary on behalf of Ida Rubinstein who informed her that Rubinstein had been engaged by Jacques Rouché, director of the Paris Opéra, to perform Le martyre de Saint Sébastien in June. Who would conduct this? Emma was desperate to know. Why not Caplet himself, she suggested hopefully. She obviously associated him closely with this work since he had orchestrated a large part of it and actively assisted at rehearsals. But she realised this might cause a problem with Hébertot at the Champs-Élysées. The concerts of the Association des Concerts Pasdeloup were held at the latter and in February Caplet would be taking up his position as both vice-president of this Association and assistant to Rhené-Baton, principal conductor of the Concerts Pasdeloup.

Emma, as ever since her husband's death, was determined to influence the performance of his works. Three days later she was so excited she could hardly wait for Louis Laloy, who was Secretary General of the Opéra, to close the door behind him before she picked up her pen to write to Caplet. ‘Laloy is just leaving’. She told him that he, Caplet, would conduct Saint Sébastien, if he so wished, and in addition, if he were free in the 1922–3 season, Laloy would be suggesting more concerts. ‘But I’m going too fast,’ she exclaimed. How pleased the Maître, Debussy, would be. The following day she was puzzled that Laloy had not yet contacted Caplet. He should have telephoned him by now. Perhaps he received no answer, she wondered.

On 12 January Darius Milhaud conducted the first complete performance of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire in Paris in the Salle Gaveau. Caplet must have suggested to Emma that she also should hear this work, for she made her excuses, saying she had got the date wrong, intentionally perhaps. In the same letter of apology she clung to her plan: ‘I can't envisage Saint Sébastien without you. I must see Laloy on Tuesday. I will speak to him about it.