Describes his sessions with his analyst: 5 days a week, is aware he has to do all the work, while the analyst merely restates what he has said; describes the work he needs to do for his PhD; describes the many concerts he has attended, the two highlights already described: concerts by Solomon and Curzon, followed by Beethoven conducted by Walter, Koussevitsky with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Toscanini in a non-broadcast benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, with the result that he heard the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th in 10 days. Read [Graham Greene's] 'The Heart of the Matter'; asks if PS has resumed psychiatric sessions on his return to Cambridge.
Describes a 'magnificent' concert featuring Clifford Curzon with Bruno Walter and the N.Y. Philharmonic, which brought back memories of the glorious weekend with PS before he left for Paris; it's been a great year for English pianists, describes a concert by Solomon and also mentions Myra Hess; is getting on well with Frances [Whyte], but no break on the matrimonial front; is pleased to read what PS had to say about analysis, that the work is all the patient's; says PS is a lot sicker than he is, and will have to do a lot more work; describes his religious problems, has been studying Will Herberg, appreciates that he writes meaningfully about Judaism.
Describes his difficulty in focusing on work, finds analysis painful, has distanced himself from his family except for Frances [Whyte]; is going to hear Solomon [Cutner] in his American debut, [Artur] Schnabel has cancelled concerts due to illness, is going to three performances of the New York Philharmonic conducted by [Bruno] Walter including one featuring [Clifford] Curzon, and two ballets featuring [Alexandra] Danilova and [Alicia] Markova; the best thing he has seen is Marcel Pagnol's film 'Marius', which has the texture of a novel; asks for details of his psychiatrist; asks about friends there, news of Dave Calhoun and Tony, glad to hear Mr Wisdom is looking good.