Showing 10 results

Postmarked Mainz. - Has just played through some of Act I and Act II [of "The Bride of Dionysus"] for Herr Geheimrat [Strecker], who 'has none of the doubts he had a year ago' and thinks that they should risk five acts due to the contrast in atmosphere between the prison and Labyrinth scenes. Is feeling 'more encouraged' than he has for some time, and feels that if he can get the instrumentation of the duet right he will be 'out of the wood'. Asks for permission for an omission and an insertion. Has recently realised the necessity of making an emotional point of the words 'Against my bridal day'.

23 St John's Wood Park, N.W. - Had read most of "The Bride [of Dionysus]" in manuscript, but the book looks beautiful 'in its artistic getup' and he much enjoyed reading it through. He and his father also heard part of Donald [Tovey]'s music recently; both were 'struck by the beauty of the work in its completed form'. Hopes the book has the success it deserves.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - So 'delightful that Schotts have bought three more of Donald [Tovey]'s things today'; hopes that his visit to the Streckers will be successful. Asks when would be most convenient for Donald to visit the Trevelyans. Does not know why Bobbie [Robert Trevelyan] told 'a perfect stranger like Dr Strecker' that Donald could only work at the Trevelyans; Percy Such was very indignant so she said it was 'Bobbie's notion of a joke'. Hopes Strecker will not think Donald a lunatic; Mr Such said he had explained it was 'an invention of Bobbie's to secure Donald's company' which she thinks is true, but 'he oughtn't to be greedy'. Lady [Evelyn?] de Vesci has asked her and Donald to join her in the Tyrol, which she would love, but she does not want to hamper Donald. Enjoyed Bessie's last visit very much, and wishes she could do something for her.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Hopes Donald [Tovey] has let Bessie know that he proposes to be at Worplesdon from Saturday to Monday, to see his father and bring him on to the Trevelyans. Asks Bessie if she can see to a few things: Donald is not quite well, as 'his wretched eczema plainly shows', so she is sending his tonic and hair wash to be put in his bedroom; had got it under control but one result of 'the inexpressibly silly meddling early in the year' was that it was neglected; they both find it very depressing. Assures Bessie that it is not infectious, but hereditary [perhaps psoriasis rather than eczema?]. Will send one trunk packed for Germany, the other to come back to Northlands. Donald must leave for Mayence [Mainz] on 31 August at the latest, for his visit to the Streckers, although unfortunately 'the old publisher [Geheimrat Ludwig Strecker Sr] and his wife' will be absent. Bobbie [Trevelyan's] 'absurd intrusion into Mr Strecker's carriage' [see 8/25] gave the impression that Donald was 'an idle, capricious, rich amateur' who takes every excuse not to work, instead of a 'serious musician with his living to get'. Insists that the limitations imposed by his teaching and concerts encourage Donald to work, and do not hinder him. Urgent that he practises the piano regularly again in the autumn, as 'important people' tell her they have noticed a difference in his playing; he is however not well enough for her to worry him at the moment. Hopes to meet him in Munich with Percy Such for the Brahms fest. Will send Bessie her summer address when she knows it. Is sure being with Bessie will benefit Donald.

C/o Herr Geheimratt Strecker, Kaiserstrasse 32, Mainz. - Thinks a letter of his has gone missing, so will repeat the contents. Trevelyan's criticism of his own work in Act V of "The Bride of Dionysus" is 'very strong': he himself had thought of some of it but would not have felt sure until Trevelyan put it so strongly. Doesn't feel that Trevelyan's new proposals quite remove 'the appendix-like effect of Dionysus'. If it is clear that Ariadne does destroy herself, the Dionysus finale will be 'a mere Gounod's-Faust-resurrection'. Asks if Dionysus could be got into the action of the play earlier, and sketches out a proposal for this, outlining advantages. Cannot face the pause Trevelyan suggests between Ariadne's disappearance and the finale: he sat through [Wagner's] "Lohengrin" the other day (an excellent performance except that Elsa was just like '[Henry Gabriel?]Pelissier in one of his feminine rôles') and noticed how 'every stoppage on the stage becomes increasingly annoying' though there are not many and they are theoretically very dramatic. Question of the visibility of Dionysus now re-opened.

Thinks he will get on well now. Has been struggling with the Theseus-Phaedra duet, which he hopes to finish tomorrow; for the last couple of months has 'been suffering from a most disgusting inability to tackle anything', a feeling he is used to, but it has been very bad this last year, and coincides with depression about music in general. Feels that it is 'about the worst period in musical history since the 17th century' though admits this might be affected by his own low spirits. Thinks he should be over the worst now, and hopes in the summer they will be able to get the last act done together. Doesn't see how he can get back before the Classical Concert on the 25th as he wants to stop at Cologne and especially Amsterdam on the way home. Begs Trevelyan to 'put in an occasional week-end at Northlands': he will not be able to get about next term, as he needs to practice. Needs to make Northlands his base, as there aren't any academic posts which would give him such good chances for work: English music has no official openings for anyone not 'a cross between Marie Corelli, [John Philip?] Sousa, and Bernard Shaw'. Something which has been 'out of order' with him over the last year is coming right again. Is more sure than ever that the opera will be a 'big thing' if they can 'pull it through'.

Has been looking at [Trevelyan's] "Sisyphus" again; feels it will make 'a splendid modern Zauberflöte' and will certainly take it on when 'let out of Hanwell [Asylum] for finishing Ariadne. Is going to play the prison scene to Herr Geheimrat [Strecker] tomorrow, and will tell Trevelyan how it goes.

Elton Hall, Peterborough. - Is attracted by Trevelyan's Rothbury plan and will join in if he can, but there are factors which may prevent him. Miss Weisse went to Germany the Sunday before the British declaration of war; the Noordewiers [Aaltje and Michiel], who have just returned to Holland, heard from her a week ago and she is safe in Hanover. She can get money from the Streckers at Mainz there, and he has 'no special cause for anxiety' at the moment. His brother [Duncan] is in the London Scottish Regiment and has just left on active service, so his family at Worplesdon may want help. He also left all his opera score at the Shiffolds. Whatever his own prospects, and whatever becomes of Fritz Busch, he has to try to work as if nothing has changed. It is 'awful' working on his symphony, 'every note of which is Fritz's private property' but if Fritz comes through the war he could not face him unless the work were perfect. He and Trevelyan must also carry on with the opera: 'German translation & all'. Must not let himself merely subside into his Edinburgh professorship, but must also make 'a striking and solid success' of his first term's work there. Will have a few 'rather vulgar sham-organization-&-efficiency bullies' to cope with, and needs to win the support of people of 'real culture' through efficiency. His timetable is in print in the University calendar; has decided to get a secretary for office-work, and asks if Trevelyan knows of a candidate, though he must be 'an Edinburgh sort of librarian's bottle-washer' and it wouldn't be a good move for Rupert Leigh [Rupert Lee?].

Thinks it best to complete his time at Elton Hall: 'Victor [Hely-Hutchinson]'s talent is a thing of immense importance' and he must be saved 'from the appalling bad musical taste of his people'; they are not 'bad and vulgar' but 'good and kind, in spite of many British limitations that are beyond caricature' and their 'impenetrable satisfaction with the precise stage of culture they happen to have drifted into', which makes things difficult, but he thinks he will succeed. Hal Goodhart-Rendel is an example of 'what bad feeding can do for the finest material in the world': both he and Victor had 'more talent, better health & stronger brains' than Tovey had. His sister [Natalie] must had had a quite useful talent and her violin-playing could have been useful to Victor, but 'it is now so unspeakably bad' and she plays 'such vile stuff' to the delight of her relations that it is bad for Victor to play with her. So Tovey feels he should stay until the other tutor comes on the 20th.

Would be an 'honour & delight' to meet Trevelyan's parents again, and sees it would be good for Trevelyan to be north; however, it may be better for Tovey to be near Northlands, Worplesdon and the Shiffolds. Leaves the decision to Trevelyan.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is very sorry and so will D. [Donald Tovey] be; he plays Chopin beautifully. Suggests Bessie comes when she is inviting [Louis] Fleury and a string quartet to play Donald's quartet in D and flute variations, probably on the 18th; hopes she will be able to stay the night, and bring Julian and his nurse. Donald did also 'mutter something vague about the Röntgens'; hopes they will see them. Donald is away; she is starting to think of summer plans. Will have to spend at least a short spell at Nauheim, then see what she can do for her brother [Henry] his wife and Archie. Donald will be in Scotland most of August; she wonders whether Bessie could host him for about a fortnight at the end of August as she is still anxious about him and happiest when he is with friends she can trust to look after him, but does not know his plans. The playing of the string quartets and flue variations is to let the 'Streckers - Père et Fils [Ludwig and Willy?] hear them'; thinks they cannot fail to be impressed, which is very important. Will write to Mrs Röntgen.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - The music [see 8/85] was played at short notice on Friday 'as Strecker père went off to Germany yesterday' and was lovely; is increasingly convinced that Donald [Tovey]'s best chance of becoming well-known is through the Streckers; is always 'joyfully surprised' by 'their real "Bildung [culture]"' and 'weighty commonsense and understanding of Donald' both as genius and man. The Rummels [Walter Morse Rummel and Thérèse Chaigneau] here in the morning, very nice and both 'very excellent musicians'. Since this is Ascot week, they are 'imprisoned here' with nothing going on but work. Donald went to the New Forest on Saturday and will return on Wednesday; he is also soon going to the Speyers twice. Encourages Bessie to come over any day next week; asks when the Röntgens are coming and would like to see them.

Hôtel Bellevue. Bad Nauheim, Hesse. - Asks Bessie to let her know that Donald [Tovey] has arrived at the Shiffolds and how he is; has had 'a sentence or two from him most days' but supposes she will always feel 'a long torment' at being a long distance from him. Has had a tonic for his 'gouty eczema' sent for him; he has promised to 'let a good doctor take him in hand again' when she gets back. Is worried he may be feeling 'hustled over his Symphony' since he is always 'incurably optimistic' about how long things will take him; he expected to have it done by now and to 'completely finish Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] by the end of next month'; but she is 'quite happy with his output this year'. Wishes he took a 'real jovial holiday' sometimes, but perhaps his concert tour of Germany will provide that. Was very disappointed about Augustin; had discussed it with [George?] Henschel and was planning to commission Augustin to arrange a concert tour for Donald this winter, but Donald insisted 'it was all being arranged' and 'lo there is nothing!'. It matters less, though, as Willy Strecker's father is coming on Sunday and she thinks they will organise something for 1914-1915 at least. Asks Bessie to tell her what Donald says about the Borsdorf concert plan, which 'sounded very promising and jolly'; she is prepared to back it financially and hopes others will too; it is what should have been done with the Chelsea concerts. Also asks if Donald can be kept from 'sweet things and fruit in any form, cooked or raw'. Hopes Bessie is less tired than when she saw her last; complains about the weather.

Written on the train, postmarked London S.W. - Theseus' comment after the gates [of the Labyrinth, in "The Bride of Dionysus"] is not in his copy, asks Trevelyan to send it c/o Dr Strecker, 23 Kaiserstrasse, so that Tovey can unite it with 'a beautiful setting'.