Showing 7 results

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Will be delightful to have Bessie to stay tomorrow; tells her to come as early as she can, as [Adolf] Busch is here, and the Arányis and Percy Such are coming early tomorrow afternoon. Donald [Tovey] will give her news of Holland;he fled there on Saturday to tell 'his strange tale of the Casals to the dear and kind Röntgens' and came back yesterday 'much comforted'.

Hôtel Prince of Wales, Bad Nauheim, Germany. - Thanks Bessie for her letter with news of Donald [Tovey]: brings her 'great peace' to know he is with such 'kind friends', and Donald's own postcard to her 'expresses his delight with his surroundings'. He says the clavichord is 'exquisite', and she wishes she was there to hear it, as well as the violin and the new Bösendorfer. Hopes to be home on Thursday and that Donald will come to Northlands then; supposes he will want to attend [Percy] Such's wedding that day.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Trevelyan for his note: there is 'no loss of friendship' though she thinks him 'very often injudicious in quite forgetting how very little [he knows] of Donald and of his surroundings and requirements'; has much affection for both Trevelyans and is grateful for the 'rest' their society gives Donald. Regrets that Trevelyan interfered with Donald's publishers [the Streckers: see 8/25] at 'so important a moment' and Percy Such was 'justly alarmed and indignant'. Thinks it a shame Donald wastes time on teaching and social functions, and also that the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] is a 'serious deflection of his proper work'; is sure though that all will be well, and is appreciates the 'loving care' the Trevelyans take of Donald. Is sure their dates will suit Donald. He will be 'quite independent' of her [in Germany], though she hopes they will meet at Munich; wishes he could travel back with her. It is 'delightful abt Schott' [apparently wanting to take three of Donald's pieces].

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.

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.

3 Hobart Place, London S.W.1. - Is sorry to have to write instead of speaking; first of all says she was talking [in 8/110] of Robert Trevelyan's poem ["The Bride of Dionysus"] as a libretto: has often 'enjoyed many beautiful scenes and jewelled lines in it' as Bessie knows. Offers examples which she say prove the Trevelyans have been 'a menace and a danger' [to Donald Tovey], such as Robert Trevelyan's announcement, in a train carriage of guests returning from Ridgehurst, that Donald could not get on with his work as he had 'such a wretched home', which caused a fellow guest [Percy Such] to warn straight to Northlands and 'warn' Sophie Weisse; says she ignored the warning, saying 'they know nothing about the past, and they are stupid', and forgetting 'how dangerous stupidity is'. Trusted them to look after Donald while she 'toiled for him at home', but questions whether he was 'safe' with them: says that no one doubts it was their 'meddling and that of another so called friend [Hugh Godley]' which led to the quarrel with Casals; asks whether [Bessie's brother-in-law Jules Engelbert] Röntgen is really Donald's friend. Accuses them of 'constant undermining' of her relationship with Donald, and asks whether he has profited by treating her as he has; they should not have let him criticise her to them, nor 'dare' criticise her to him. As proof of this, claims that a friend of hers when putting Donald's library and papers in order for her last year, brought her 'two scraps of letters', she thinks unsigned but from Bessie, criticising Miss Weisse and expressing sympathy for Donald on his 'position at Northlands'; claims that even now Bessie knows nothing of Donald; says that Mrs [Blanche Warre] Cornish thought the letters were 'low'. The Trevelyans both 'stupid and selfish'; claims that a friend who lives nearby recently said 'they always sow disunion in families and between friends'. There is much more to said when they speak face to face, including some excuses for the Trevelyans 'though they do not understand them'. Expects and wishes the Trevelyans to show this letter to anyone they like, and has kept a copy; the sooner she sees them the better.

Has 'real hopes' for the production of Donald's opera; is lunching at Covent Garden on Thursday to discuss detains with [Sir Thomas] Beecham. Donald is in some ways much healthier; Bessie must feed him 'well and suitably' when he visits, as she expects he will soon.

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Though Donald [Tovey] is meant to be staying at Northlands all July, so far he has managed only about two nights a week; next week seems clearer; invites the Trevelyans to come and stay the night on July 27th, or another day next week. Donald hopes Bessie will play some sonatas with him. Percy Such and [Charles?] Jacoby [or Georg Jacobi?] are coming that night to play Donald's new arrangement of his Trio for Clarinet and Horn, for Violin and Cello.