THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

Monday 23rd [Nov. 1953]

My dear Michael,

Your letter made me very happy.  If John could make it happen it would be wonderful, above anything else, for Ralph.  I think the production¹ could be re-done without too much re-learning, and the scenery scrapped, & the cyclorama and about £200 of props used, & a lighting expert called in; the clothes could be used, so the production costs w^d be minimum.  I think R feels that no one understood what he was trying to do operatically.  John of course would, so let us pray to St Cecilia on whose propitious day you wrote to me, for her blessing on John & Ralph & that awful David Webster.²

Love to you both & bless you.

Ursula.

Yes, Eslyn, the bookcase came, the men who brought it were bus drivers, & refused to carry it upstairs, so I had to get the green grocer, who is also a furniture remover, to do it!  2 very small men came with screw drivers & did it without any fuss: & it holds everything.

1.  i.e. of The Pilgrim’s Progress (Catalogue of Works 1951/1).
2.  General Administrator of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.