Auden, Wystan Hugh: Brief an Henze, Hans Werner. Kirchstetten (Westbahn), Freitag, 15. Juli 1966
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/)

Kirchstetten (Westbahn)
Hinterholz # 6
Niederösterreich

July 15th . 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.]

Dearest Hans:

Have decided my letter of yesterday was zu nachgebig on the matter of tails. [An arrow in pencil, pointing from Henze's note on the margin to the word tails.] He means tail coats![^1]

[^1: 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.]

I tell you as Poppa that you and Chester & I have got to wear them.[^2] Das ist ein Befehl!!

[^2: 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.]

much love
Wystan