Letter from W. H. Auden to H. W. Henze, July 15, 1966

Writing styles

• 1.

  Handwriting, Auden, Wystan Hugh, ballpoint pen (blue).
• 2.

  Handwriting, Henze, Hans Werner, pencil.

Text Constitution

• 1.

  "He means tail coats! "added in the right margin, handwritten, pencil, Henze, Hans Werner

Commentary

• 1.

  "N.Ö."abbreviation of "Niederösterreich".
• 2.

  "… July 15 th . 1966"This letter is definitely written the day after the letter of 14 July 1966, because Auden again refers to the three authors’ wearing tails for the premiere of The Bassarids in Salzburg.
• 3.

  [Figure Description]An arrow in pencil, pointing from Henze’s note on the margin to the word “tails”.
• 4.

  "… He means tail coats!"Henze perhaps added this explanation for archival reasons, similar to the bracketed dates he occasionally added to the undated letters from the librettists, or with a view to the possible publication of the correspondence.
• 5.

  "… have got to wear them."The three authors of The Bassarids discuss how to dress for the premiere of their opera in Salzburg on 6 August 1966. Auden’s idea was to dress in tails, because all artists who have to bow on stage after the performance have to wear tails, according to his understanding. See Auden’s letter on 14 July 1966.