Kallman, Chester: Brief an Henze, Hans Werner. Kirchstetten, Dienstag, 18. Oktober 1960
author: Kallman, Chester
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Copyright by the Estate of Chester Kallman. By courtesy of the Estate of Chester Kallman. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Kirchstetten --October 18 1959 (?) 60 ? 1960[^1]
Hansiest (of Haydn, Handel & Henze)--

[^1: It is not plausible that this letter was written in 1959 since work on the libretto of Elegy of Young Lovers (that Kallman refers to in this letter) had only begun in that Summer. Instead, it is much more conceivable that Kallman sent the corrections and additions together with the letter in October 1960 at a time when the three authors frequently exchanged suggestions on the composition of the music and the libretto.]

Enclosed a few additions and corrections, mostly self-explanatory.[^2] The four lines for Elizabeth explaining her attraction for Mitty have been restored be c ause without them it looks as though she were clinging to Mitty because she felt sorry for him, which is what one would think after her scene with him if no other comment or consideration were made at this point.[^3] And since we discover at the end that she doesn't really love Toni[^4], to leave out these lines would make her appear a light-headed girl who has never loved in any way, not even sexually; and this ma k es her a rather shallow heroine. I'm sure you'll agree. Also, this wound to Toni's sexual pride is necessary to make the scene that follows comprehensible. Anyway, it's only four more lines, climactic at that, and you should have no trouble setting them. The other additions are spoken.

[^2: The enclosures mentioned here have not been preserved with the letter. These may, however, be located among the documents kept at the Paul Sacher Foundation.]

[^3: It is unclear which four lines Kallman is referring to in this sentence. However, from the duet between Elizabeth and Mittenhofer in Act II, Scene V (Personal Questions) and from what Elizabeth tells Toni afterwards in Act II, Scene VII (What must be told), it emerges that she was indeed the poet's lover and in love with him. For example, Elizabeth sings: “Was I myself when I dreamed / Of becoming his mistress?” […] “The dream came true, didn't it, / Like in the fairy tales. The goose-girl / Won her Prince. She was supposed / To live happily ever after. / But something happened.” […] “Toni, dear, please listen. / I don't think I can leave him.”]

[^4: Elizabeth's doubts about her love for Toni emerge in Act II, Scene VII (What must be told) when Toni states: “We love each other” and she answers “Do we? / I know I loved my father. Then I thought / I loved your Godfather, then … […] Perhaps not. Perhaps I never was.”]

That's all for now. Afe tr[^5] Satur da y we can be reached by writing

[^5: A handwritten line in blue pen indicates that the two letters “e” and “t” should be reversed when reading.]

Professor W.H. Auden
Christ Church
Oxford
England.

Much love
Chester