Auden, Wystan Hugh: Brief an Henze, Hans Werner. New York, Sonntag, 27. Dezember 1964
author: Auden, Wystan Hugh
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Copyright by the Estate of W. H. Auden. By courtesy of the Estate of W. H. Auden. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

77 St Mark’s Place
New York City
New York 10003
[The address is boxed in red marker.]

Dec 27th 1964[^1]
Dearest Hans:

[^1: The date 1964 derives from the fact that this letter mentions an attachment that could in all probability be the synopsis of The Bassarids, which Auden promised to send him as soon as possible in his letter of 21 December 1964.]

I hope the enclosed is satisfactory. [The attached document was not preserved with this letter; however, it could be kept with the documents related to The Bassarids at the Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel.] and not sly too long. As you will see, I have avoided mentioning either the costumer of the character, or the appearance of the fertility idols in the final scene, as I think we want to surprise our audience with these. [Auden is probably alluding to the synopsis of The Bassarids Henze requested, which was printed in the program notes of the premiere and then also in the study score.]

much love
Wystan.