Auden, Wystan Hugh: Brief an Henze, Hans Werner. Kirchstetten (Westbahn), Samstag, 10. Juni 1967
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/)

June 10 th 1967 [The date can be verified by the fact that Auden mentions the Wiener Festwochen 1967, which lasted from 20 May to 18 June.]
year?
Dearest Hans:

Have just heard, via William and Peter H that you are not well.[^1] If you can, do drop me a line to say exactly how you are, or I shall worry.

[^1: It is not certain what Auden is referring to here, however, Henze had major health problems in early 1967 due to hypertension. Even his doctor, as he recounts in his Autobiography, pp. 225-226, forbade him to conduct.]

You’ve probably read about the Wiener Festwochen being devoted to all Donauraum composers.[^2] Chester goes as guest of them. I have also been to Haydn. Orpheus and Eurydice [This opera was performed at the Theater an der Wien on 21 May 1967.]. Hell. Janacek. Die Sache Makrópólos [This opera was performed at the Volksoper on 31 May 1967.]. Hell. Smetana – Dalibor [This opera was performed at the Volksoper on 1 June 1967.]. Marvellous!

[^2: The title of the 1967 Wiener Festwochen was indeed Nachbarn an der Donau (See the program of the Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival) 1967). In his Autobiography, p. 227, Henze writes that he drove with Fausto to attend the Vienna Festival and visit Auden.]

Have you heard about the lady who wrote to a B.B.C. record programme asking them to play her favorite piece Christian and his soldiers. After much correspondence and research, they discovered that she meant Tristan und Isolde.

much love and prayers for your recovering
Wystan.