Henze, Hans Werner: Brief an Auden, Wystan Hugh/Kallman, Chester. Castelgandolfo (Roma), Samstag, 27. August 1966
author: Henze, Hans Werner
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Mit freundlicher Genehmigung der Hans Werner Henze-Stiftung (Dr. Michael Kerstan). (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Hans Werner Henze

Castelgan d olfo (Roma)
Via dei Laghi, 18

27th August, 1966

Herren
Wystan H. Au d en und Chester Kallman
Hinterholz 6
Kirchstetten bei Wien (Westbahn)

Gentlemen,

I hear from Filippo [The Italian scenic and costume designer Filippo Sanjust worked on the production of the premiere of The Bassarids.] that you will come to Berlin only two days before the first night. [The German premiere of Die Bassariden took place at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin on 28 September 1966.] Well, how do you think we can talk about the school-opera in those two days of frenzy? [In his letter to Henze on 14 July 1966 Auden alludes to a work for schoolchildren which probably corresponds to Moralities, written for Cincinnati children and based on Aesop's fables.] Why don’t you just think it all out for yourself and bring me the result in form of a completed work ? Perhaps only for speakers (one or two) and the choire, perhaps one solovoice and no speaker. Short. 30 minutes. [In its final form, Moralities would last for 23 minutes and features a mixed choir with soloists, speakers and small orchestra or 2 pianos and percussion.]

I had reserved October for the composition of it, so you realize the urgency. Pl ea se do not let me down. [See also Henze’s subsequent telegram on 28 November 1966.] [Carbon paper stains and traces of erasures.]

I hope you are fine, so am I. Please write!

Love,