Item 32 - Letter from Sophie Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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Munich. - Has suffered a bad chill since coming to Germany, and needs to stay in bed for a couple of days to be fit when Donald [Tovey] arrives and to hear the Brahms. Has heard two of [Wagner's] Ring operas and Parsifal, and a performance of [Beethoven's?] Ninth Symphony which made her 'ache to hear Donald conducting it'. Is very touched by Bessie's news [of her pregnancy]; hopes that in time she will have 'a little band of children' growing up in her home, and tells her to look after herself. The baby whose mother she was so worried about in August is now a 'marvellous success'. Is looking forward to the second act of Donald's opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"], and hopes she may hear it several times. Has scarcely seen anything of Donald over the last eighteen months. The Trevelyans must come to Northlands next time he is working on the opera: will be 'a great thing to get it finished and out of the way'. Donald played the first act when Mr [Hugh?] Godley was visiting, and she was 'enormously struck' by it; it is dreadful that she is 'out of touch' with his work, as their tastes in music are 'so absolutely the same'. Is missing Brahms' "Requiem", and is miserable. Hopes that Donald practised.