Barnet, Miguel: Brief an Henze, Hans Werner. Mittwoch, 3. Januar 1979
author: Barnet, Miguel
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

January 3, 1979
Dear brother;

Finally I hear from you again. This time with not good news.[^1] I am terribly sad. It was too much, and Martin Franzbach [The German Hispanist Franzbach often helped Barnet and Henze, transporting their correspondence between Cuba and Germany in the late 1970s and early 1980s. See also Henze's letter on 8 October.] even brought to my hands the ugly and filthy article in the paper where you appear as a victim of brutal men in black hoods, nothing in your house and causing sorrow to your heart, I felt aggressive and in the meantime a stream of solidarity to you flew through my veins. I hate all that story and hope by now you feel better and totally recovered.[^2] Fausto, I am sure is of great support to you and a real friend. I wished I were [It looks as if there was written there first, crossed out, and were written over it, before being crossed out again and then written out again.]there to beat those monsters in their face and put them to the ground. Nevertheless, I know you will keep working and surely directing again like before.

[^1: Here, Barnet refers to the bad news Henze had given him in his previous letter, which has not been located to date. The year 1978 was particularly difficult for Henze, who suffered a heart attack in April (see Henze's Autobiography, pp. 373-374) and he said to his psychoanalyst: Never again would we want to experience all we had been through in 1978. See Henze's Autobiography, p. 378.]

[^2: Here, Barnet refers to the violent robbery in September 1978, in which Henze and his friends were attacked, robbed and injured by a group of masked gunmen, as recounted by Henze in his Autobiography, p. 377.]

I didn’t write before because Martin just came on December for the New Year’s Eve and your letter and the rest were received then. [The exchange of correspondence between Barnet and Henze took place mainly through people travelling between Cuba and Europe, one of whom was also Franzbach.] But I hear you received my card from Estonia. [A Barnet postcard from Estonia to Henze has yet to be located.] I was there in June and July, also in Moscow, [Barnet had sent Henze a postcard from Moscow on 31 May 1978.] Leningrade, Pskok , Pechory, and south; Baku , Azerbaijan, etc. I had a wonderful time. Russians are very friendly and loving-heart and they feel sympathy and solidarity for Cuba. [During the Cold War, Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union.] So I felt there like a king in its land.

Wrote articles, read press, etc. Had I been been able I would have leaped to Rome. But it was impossible. I think I will see you again in Cuba very soon. [Barnet and Henze did not meet again in Cuba, but in Europe, where Barnet was able to visit Henze in May 1982.] I still hope your masterpiece El Cimarrón could be heard here by everybody and, naturally, by me. [This phrase confirms that the July 1977 performance of El Cimarrón did not take place.] I know all about Angola [Henze also mentions a performance of El Cimarrón in Angola in his Autobiography, p. 395.] and Latin America [El Cimarrón toured Latin America in 1976. See Henze's letter to Enzensberger and Barnet's letter to Henze.] from the papers. My felicitations to you and to the crew.[^3] ¿When could you come back? Everybody does, but you. OK, brother, Martin is about to leave and I have to put this letter in his hands. Please write again. And thanks for the beautiful presents. We bought a wonderful Omega (gold) and a gorgeous lighter for Rogelio. I hope he’ll drop by soon. If not I will search for him and drag him out from earth. Your very nice and young and inspiring like always. Ten years is just a click in our lives. [Barnet and Henze had met in March 1969 during Henze's first trip to Cuba and so 1979 marked 10 years of their friendship.] I am sure the light is still gleaming for both. Your work is great, (also the reviews).

[^3: Barnet’s use of the word crew refers to the musicians who took part in the performances of El Cimarrón. In Latin America El Cimarrón was performed by the same musicians who took part in the premiere (William Pearson, baritone; Karlheinz Zöller, flute; Leo Brouwer, guitar; Stoma Yamash'ta, percussion). According to Henze's Autobiography, p. 395, the Angola performance was produced by Hanns Anselm Perten, probably performed by the same musicians who gave the first performance in East Germany (Frank Brandau, baritone; Willi Schreiber, flute; Hans Sende, guitar and Andreas Aigmüller, percussion). See also Barnet's letter to Henze on 9 December 1976.]

A big hug.
Miguel Barnet

Viva le revolución que nos ha unido para siempre! [A line separates this last sentence from the main text.]