The following is the translation of a letter which Gounod addressed to Jean de Reszke in 1892 (the year of the composer's death), on the day after the tenor's appearance in the one-hundredth performance of “Romeo" at the Paris Opera:   

My dear Jean:   

You literally surpassed yourself last night. Perhaps that surprises you? It does me, too. Nevertheless, it is true. Never have you carried to such a height that beauty of diction and  gesture, that correctness and expressiveness of accent, that control of voice production — in a word, that perfectly balanced proportion which alone makes the great artist by placing him beyond  the danger of extremes, the perpetual temptation of the incompetent. Thanks and bravo, again and always! May heaven preserve you and leave us your beautiful art as long as possible!  Of such as you we have great need. Remember me to dear  Edouard, who, like yourself, has the air of having been born in  his role, and believe me, both of you,   

Cordially yours,   

Ch. Gounod.