Item 4 - Letter from Donald Tovey to R. C. Trevelyan

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Was at Worplesdon yesterday and read 'Adney' [Ariadne, i.e. Trevelyan's first draft of the libretto for "The Bride of Dionysus"] to his parents: was delightful to see his father relish its 'classical spirit and detail' and get excited at each point where a 'fine spectacular or dramatic effect' can be imagined'. He confirmed Tovey's feeling that Minos needs to be 'filled out & prevented from an abstraction of ogre-dom', but also inclined him to think that many of his other scruples may be 'meticulous'. Further thoughts on Phaedra in the third Act, and on Minos' speech at the entrance to the Labyrinth; suggests the addition of a reference made by Ariadne to the tears shed for Androgeos by his sisters. Note on the back of the envelope saying how pretty Tovey finds the Satyr, and asking if Trevelyan could make him 'lead a Maenad chorus'.