Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is going to Holland tonight for a few days holiday. Hopes that Donald [Tovey], who has been in Germany for a while, will also be in Amsterdam. Asks if Bessie knows how the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] is getting on: gets more anxious as 'half year follows half year and there is nothing to show for it'. Almost impossible to know what she should do; though a 'struggle for existence' may perhaps have made him do more of the work he is 'best fitted to do', more likely it 'would have destroyed him'. Has no doubt of Donald's 'real greatness as an artist' and would do 'everything in the world that is good for him to back him up'. He is playing and practising very well. Sees Donald very little when he is here, and he cannot help knowing she minds 'the apparent loss of these five precious years very much'. Thinks he is seeing a good deal of Miss Kelly at the moment, and has written some songs for her; wishes 'a lovely beautiful planet could be created to wish the Kellys both [Mary Kelly and her brother Frederick Septimus]', though she likes the little she has seen of Miss Kelly, and if only she were poor 'and would marry him and help on his work' would be 'the happiest Schwiegermamma [mother-in-law] possible'. Hopes to see the Röntgens in Amsterdam; is 'much depressed' after a hard term and bad cold, and hopes her week's holiday will do her good. A postscript asks if it is 'generally known' that Donald studied and 'practised note for note every single valuable piece' in the piano repertoire.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Donald [Tovey]'s bad health has delayed his stay with the Trevelyans; she was with him in London with their 'very dear friends the Wallaces in their terrible bereavement' [the death of Emily Wallace] who kept saying how tired he looked; she got him to bed, and brought him to Northlands yesterday in a motorcar. He has bad tonsillitis, but is recovering, and when she is sure he is well and safe for Bessie and the baby [Julian] he will come; thinks this will be Monday at the latest. Donald is bad at taking care of himself in many ways. Asks Bessie if she can 'bemuttern' [mother] him a little, by making sure he takes his Sanatogen and another medicine. Is rather anxious about the Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] work after the busy spring and summer he has had. Has been reading some of his "Encyclopædia [Britannica]" articles, which are 'quite glorious both in matter and style'; his composition will be even more so and she wishes it good luck. Discusses his luggage; asks Bessie to get him to change when he is hot, and hopes he pays his laundry bills. Asks how long he is to stay; believes he is going to Mrs [Augusta] Freshfield around the 26th. The thought of going to Nauheim is 'dismal' to her. Donald in good spirits as he has been well all year, and is 'good friends with Miss Kelly'; does not think her brother [Frederick] can 'ever make him nervous again'. Very glad to hear Julian thrives. Asks Bessie to let he know how Donald does. A postscript notes that there will be some lotion and Listerine for Donald's bedroom; another postscript written on 12 August says Donald is much better and will be with the Trevelyans on Monday; his two boxes are at the station already.
Elton Hall, Peterborough. - Trevelyan could re-direct Tovey's postcard [to Julius Röntgen, see 7/36?] to Denmark, or it would be forwarded from Holland and 'all the less dangerous for the circumbendibus'; if Trevelyan thinks it better not to send it that is all right. The 20th suits him well. His position is 'entirely saved by the Edinburgh job': the postponement of his European concerts (though he still hopes the Dutch ones may take place) is a different matter when due to European war than as 'the result of any other fault or misfortune'; his income will now be 'indisputably the result of his own exertions' and his artistic career will gain through having to wait, as he will 'have hoarded up a stronger reserve of technique' than ever before by the time peace returns. Will not play in England except where invited 'with the most unmistakeable sincerity'. Will be 'implacable' towards those 'whose policy has been animated by jealousy of Miss Weisse'. His friends, including [F.S] Kelly and [Hugh] Godley have all known how much he longed for 'real independence'. 'Utopian' of him 'to leave the Classical Concert Society in the hands of a couple of Eton-boys who haven't outgrown the politics of prefects', but they must revive the Chelsea Concerts if they want to hear him play again.
Believes that the first thing to emerge from 'the shock to civilisation' will be 'a rather sentimental taste for humanity and sentimentality in art' - cites the success of [Beethoven's] "Fidelio" and [Cherubini's] "Les Deux Journées" after the French Revolution - and since he himself is 'built that way', he thinks that their "Bride of Dionysus" will do well. Can do without success, though, and will make it clear that 'irritation with Miss Weisse' was no excuse for 'wet-blanketing' Tovey', and that whatever his feelings at being dependent on her for so long, and whatever allowance he makes for some of the quarrels she got into, he will only have contempt for the way in which his 'concert-wire-pulling-friends' tried to get him out of his position without an idea of how he should earn a living instead. The economic problem of English music is 'grossly mis-handled by that class of art-patron'. Will be trouble in Edinburgh about the establishment of a conservatoire there; he will emphasise that the problem of British musical education is nothing compared with what to do with musicians once they are 'turned loose'.
Will only play where he has been hitherto paid properly: Edinburgh, Englefield Green, Liverpool and Oxford. After the war he will exert himself abroad and hopes the 'dear Busches' [Adolf and Fritz] will be there to help him; otherwise he 'must work for their memory'.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is sorry Trevelyan had such trouble getting home. Has heard from Hugh Godley, to whom he wrote from Budapest, that Cleg [F. S. Kelly]'s second concert was 'nothing like what Miss Weisse's account made of it': reasonably well attended, Cleg fairly cheerful afterwards and his playing 'enjoyable on the whole'. Would have gone to hear Cleg yesterday had he been more sure of his ground, but it felt too risky given 'Miss Weisse's bitterness towards him'. A shame that the only bad review was in the "Westminster", which has recently been supportive of Tovey; fears that he will be suspected of having 'got at' the press. Will write Cleg a letter expressing normal congratulations. Blames no-one 'least of all, people whose capacity for overcoming a grudge has been crushed out of them by a life of uphill work & self-sacrifice.'
Bayreuth, bei Frau Roder, Schillerstrasse 12. - Thanks Bessie for her care of her dear 'great man' [Donald Tovey]. Bayreuth is 'very splendid and fine' with 'only a moderate amount of vulgarity'; Mr and Miss Kelly have just visited, both saying they enjoyed [Robert Trevelyan's] "Sisyphus" very much, and she agrees. Is not going to the opera much as she is 'lame and headachy'. On Sunday or Monday she is going to stay with her friend Marie Remy at Wenigerode. Hopes all are well and Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] 'swimming along'. Asks what the Oxford Professor was called. Hopes Donald saw Mrs Speyer.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Trevelyan for the 'beautiful copy' of the end of Act I [of "The Bride of Dionysus"] and all the sketches for Act V which seems to be quickly resolving itself. Is not sure about the appearance of the satyrs in Act IV, but is not at all afraid of 'Phaedra's long conjurations' and feels this scene has a great deal of power; the only thing proved by its 'present effect' on Miss Weisse and others is that unfinished music should never be shown to those who cannot compare it with even earlier stages rather than ideals. Further thoughts on Dionysus' expectations of Ariadne and the last act more generally. Is still working on Act II, about which he raises a few questions, then sketches out his intended plan of work. Is very sorry to have got 'so slow & backward' but it will not last much longer: has been thinking through the technical question of what it means to support a voice. Theseus making love is 'not a very intellectual person' so needs 'colour' from the music: prefers him 'when he's practical or heroic'. A pity that Cleg [F. S. Kelly?] is not a tenor: he has just 'the right vein of sentiment', though he feels he would never get into the same situation as Theseus.
Has spent more than a week over the duet and got to the end 'just in time for [his] sanity'; unsure why it has been so difficult, except that it is the only place in the opera which is 'neither lyric (so one can rely on inspiration) nor very profoundly involved in the musical structure as distinguished from the plot'. Gives Trevelyan the musical notation for Theseus and Phaedra's vocal lines at the end of the duet. Asks for a few reversions to original readings in the following scene. Also suggests that 'the last movement of Ariadne's struggle with Dionysus' could take shape with 'an appeal to Love to rescue her from the Labyrinth': Tovey has already come close to identifying Dionysus with love musically at certain points. Sends love to 'Mrs Poet and Julian the Apostle'.
Their letters have crossed, and Tovey's suggestion about Acts II and III [of "The Bride of Dionysus"] was independent of Trevelyan's. The time interval [in Act II] is impossible as it stands. Had almost forgotten that his idea for the final chorus had taken so definite a shape: apologises for giving Trevelyan unnecessary trouble. Explains that it will not work for the opera to end on a solo by Ariadne: it is very different from [Wagner's] Isolde's Liebestod. Ariadne has had 'the longest and most varied monologue in any opera': hopes this will be feasible without cuts, as it will be 'the largest design ever attempted in dramatic music', though Trevelyan must not tell anyone he says so, especially F. S. Kelly. Still feels that there is too strong a trace of his own 'essentially prosaic', analytical ideas in Dionysus's new speech. Would not be surprised if by the end of the composition process 90 percent of Trevelyan's original readings were restored.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Very kind of Bessie to offer the Shiffolds in her absence, but [Donald Tovey] wishes to stay at Northlands until he takes his 'little tour with Mr Trevelyan'. She wished him to accompany his father on his tour of the Mediterranean;Mr [Richard Douglas?] Denman tried to persuade him but he did not want to go; Mr [Frederick] Kelly is coming to work with him. Very kind of Bessie to think of him. Hopes 'Paulchen' will benefit soon from his trip to the sea.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Apologises for telling her so late about his plans again: is going to see his aunt [Anna Walter Thomas], which he has been putting off for two years, over Christmas; Miss Weisse has planned something which will delay him another day; the Trevelyans cannot do before the 20th or he would have come over now. Must be back at Northlands for New Year's Eve. Bessie will have to 'say something pretty strong to Miss Weisse' soon: she is still spreading the 'dismal & (both to [Tovey] and to her) utterly discreditable & mischievous lie that [Tovey] is "in a dangerous state of depression"'. Meanwhile she holds him 'here by the leg', even organising for his father's solicitor to come here to settle his business with him tomorrow night. Will have to get away if he is to be told 'absolutely nothing but lies', but his friends should understand that because musical prospects in England are so bad, he would have to leave the country altogether. His 'fine London concert patrons' are too busy 'choosing between [him], Kelly & Grainger' to give him 'any prospects at all'; their circles are also 'far too appearance-keeping' for him to 'earn an honest living'. Should not need to keep up appearances in Vienna, but begin with a 'European reputation' unhampered by the 'handicap' which his 'ten year's service as charwoman to the C.C.S [Classical Concert Society]' now seems. Is not sure it will be any use protesting to Miss Weisse though, if the 'lessons' she has had are not enough.
Train near Carlisle. - Cost her 'a great deal to leave [Donald Tovey] in Ireland yesterday' and cannot rid herself of 'apprehension while he is in this discouraged and suffering condition'; he has been shocked to find that there is a 'dickeFreundshaft' [great friendship] between Mrs [Mary] Berenson and both Kellys; 'that woman' is a real fraud as 'Miss Kelly would hate anything not entirely clean and right when she saw it'. Nothing could be better for Donald than to spend time with Robert Trevelyan and make music with Bessie; unfortunately he is probably not well enough to finish off the Encyclopædia [Britannica], though perhaps he could get it done in the mornings then make music in the afternoons. Asks Bessie to send him on to Mrs Henry Joachim on Saturday the 22nd. Also asks if Bessie can send a telegraph when Donald reaches her. Still in a nervous state and should have stayed longer at Nauheim; had to go to Ireland this time but does not think she will be able to do so again.