Barnet, Miguel: Brief (mit Umschlag) an Henze, Hans Werner. London, Samstag, 15. Dezember 1984
author: Barnet, Miguel
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

London 15/ Dec. 1984
Dear Hans:

I am back in Europe on a long tour of lectures through Germany and France.

Now in London I am working on a film about cuban folklore and music. I serve as the commentator for the musical expressions. The film is done by Michael Debb and I heard the T.V. in Italy has already bought it, so you might have a chance to see my face sometime on the colored box. [It was not possible to ascertain which film Barnet had worked on in London, nor any information on the identity of the director with whom he was collaborating.]

In Cologne I met William Pearson; he went to one of my readings in the Public Library and we became acquainted. [Pearson was the baritone at the premiere of El Cimarrón on 22 June 1970 in Aldeburgh.] He is a strong and carismatic man, but at the same time elusive, because he left at the end of the lecture and I didn’t see him again. Anyway he told me you were going to be in Cologne on the 26 of Nov. [Henze held a professorship at the Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik in Cologne from 1980 to 1991. He was probably in this city to teach.] but that was exactly the day when I had to fly to Paris.

We are playing hitchhiking. I follow your steps but unfortunately hardly even see you, brother. [Although Barnet was in Germany, he did not try to organise a meeting with Henze well in advance. See Henze's reaction to this in his letter of reply.]

My trip back to Havana will be on the 1st of January. I will stay in Madrid from the 24 to the 31 of December.

My phone there will be: 2502922, that is the house of Mario Camus , the famous spanish film maker. In case I will not remain in his house he will give you my telephone number, anyhow. Tell me about you. ¿How are you feeling with your new love life? How is your health, how about your plans. [Henze responds about his work and health in his letter of reply.] We have to do something in the future.

I want to write that opera with you, on the yombe legends. I haven’t forgotten.[^1] My book of fables and legends is coming out in Germany by Dia Marandu in Dusseldorf.[^2] I will send you a copy of the book in german as (2.) soon as the publish it.

[^1: From Barnet's letter to Henze and from his letter of reply in summer 1982, it appears that Henze and Barnet had planned to write an opera together based on African fairy tales during their meeting in May 1982.]

[^2: Barnet is referring to the German edition of Akeké y la jutía (1978, published in German in 1986), with the title Die stummen Hunde: kubanische Fabeln . The publishing house written on the cover of the book is Diá. On 3 June 1986 Barnet dedicated a copy of this book, now kept at the Library of the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, to Henze, writing: My dear Hans: this is my book on fables translated to German. I want to dedicate it to you with all my love, as always, and with the hope that you will grasp its music. A big hug from your cuban brother, Miguelito.]

I finished LA VIDA REAL , my new documentary novel about cuban in the New York turmoil of the 60’s.

It is a fascinating, and very dramatic novel based on testimonies of the cubans in exile. My friends say it is my best. I don’t know, but I feel it is the most crucial in my career.

–––––––– Private Saloon [From this point on, Barnet begins to write about private and sentimental matters, hence the sort of subtitle.] Rogelio is in Lybia . [Barnet had already mentioned in an earlier letter that Rodríguez was to work in Libya.] Have you spoken to him. He wanted to see you madly. I don’t know anything about the two of you, and I am anxious to here something. My telephone in Paris from the 19 to the 24 of Dec. will be 6331382 or 6335347

a kiss to Fausto and all my love to you.
Miguelito

[Barnet's graphic signature.]

I will like to see you again, maybe in 1985. There is a possibility of you could arrange it with my friend Renato NicolliNi, Comune di Roma Piazza Campitelli Roma – 67103100 [The following number is shifted down half a line next to the previous one.]6796360 67103415

He will invite me to one of his grand shows of poetry in 1985.[^3] But I am sure if you speak to him the things will run smoother and faster. Hope to see you again very soon.

[^3: Niccolini was the cultural assessor of the Municipality of Rome and was the founder of the annual cultural festival Estate Romana in 1977 in Rom. However, it is not certain which poetry event Barnet was invited to.]

¿ How is that sweet and marvelous demon of the sculpture and the soul, my Japanese genius?

Give him a big hug,
Miguel