Les 22 concertos pour piano de Mozart (with a lithograph by Balthus)

First collected edition of Messiaen's detailed accounts of each of Mozart's piano concertos, which had appeared individually in concert programs. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was the pre-eminent French composer of the second half of the 20th century. From a total edition of 100 numbered copies, this is ONE OF ONLY 50 COPIES WITH A LOOSE COLOR LITHOGRAPH BY BALTHUS. The lithograph, in soft colors, depicts a bay with a smoking volcano in the background. Balthus (Balthazar Klossowski de Rola, 1908-2001) was one of the great French artists of the 20th century. In theory, the book is supposed to be signed by Messiaen and the lithograph by Balthus, but in fact neither is signed. The publication of this book was carried out in the most chaotic possible way: Messiaen ended up signing only presentation copies, and Balthus ended up signing only a few impressions of the lithograph. Large folio (56 x 38.5 cm). Loose as issued in printed wraps and publisher's cloth portfolio/clamshell box. FINE AND BRIGHT, with no defects.