Letter from C. Kallman to H. W. Henze, April 8, 1960
Back
[Manuscript]
Dearest Hans:
Many thanks for your letter. Can’t‡
How silly can people be!* Herewith the‡
a
little piece about the item of the opera
which I hope will soothe the shocked.
Also another copy of the outline - can’t
imagine how the first went astray – and
Act I with full stage directions. The
other will follow in due course.
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Editorial
Responsibilities
- Editor(s)
- Elena Minetti
- Transcription
- Elena Minetti; Irmlind Capelle
Tradition
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Text Source: Basel (Schweiz), Paul Sacher Stiftung (CH-Bps), Sammlung Hans Werner Henze, Abteilung: Korrespondenz
Shelf mark: Kallman, ChesterPhysical Description
- Document type: Letter
- Helles Papier
- 1 folio
- 1 written page
- Dimensions: 280x216 [mm] (HxW)
- Gelocht. Das Blatt wurde am rechten Rand geklebt, daher gibt es Bruchspuren, die auf die Ablösung von einem anderen Blatt zurückzuführen sind.
- Nur der erste Satz eingerückt.
- Rand: 4 cm
Material
Extent
Condition
Layout
Writing styles
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1.Handwriting, Auden, Wystan Hugh, ballpoint pen (blue).
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2.Handwriting, Henze, Hans Werner, pencil.
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3.Handwriting, Kallman, Chester, ballpoint pen (blue).
Text Constitution
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" 1960 (?) "added below, handwritten, pencil, supposedly by Henze, Hans Werner
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"Can’t"crossed out
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"the"crossed out
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Following: handwritten, ballpoint pen (blue), Kallman, Chester
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"april"sic
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""crossed out
Commentary
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"… 1960 (?)"Henze himself probably added “1960(?)” later. Despite the question mark, it is most likely that the letter dates back to 8 April 1960.
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"… How silly can people be!"Kallman’s expression may refer to a discussion Henze had in Munich with Peter Kehm (program director of the Schwetzinger Festival) and Rudolf Hartmann (intendant of the Bayerische Staatsoper) because of a letter by Ludwig Strecker (Henze’s publisher at Schott), in which Strecker asked that Kehm and Hartmann reject the “perverted libretto” of Elegy for Young Lovers to prevent Henze from setting it to music. (See Henze’s Autobiography, p. 166.).
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"… Hanseatic"Kallman is probably referring to the ship that took him to Cuxhaven, near Hamburg.
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"… if you could meet me."Henze actually met Kallman in Hamburg probably in late April 1960, see Henze’s letter in which the composer writes that he discussed the names of the characters of Elegy for Young Lovers with Kallman in Hamburg.
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Baci
- Kisses
