THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[16 June 1958]

Dear Michael

                                                                     Richter
When I was young the only orchestra concerts (except the Phil: which did not count) were Manns¹ (Crystal Palace) and Richter with Henschel a little later – so we had no real standard of comparison.  But I felt that at all events in Wagner & Beethoven you heard not an “individual reading” – but the music itself – and that’s what mattered both for Richter & audience – I felt with him as with no other conductor that he never got between you and the composer
– It was always straight-forward with no monkey-tricks and intensely satisfying – a feeling which no other conductor has given me.
He used the old fashioned walking-stick baton for a straight-forward business-like beat
I only once remember his using any showmanship when he used to let the orchestra play the 5/4 Tschaikowsky without (manually) beating² – of course he did a good deal of conducting in the movement with his eyelid & little finger – but the audience thought it wonderful.  I’m sorry I have so little to tell you – it’s more than 50 years ago
My love to Eslyn – it will be lovely to meet at Cheltenham
Yrs

RVW

Just back from a lovely flash round the Fens – Lincoln, Tattershall, Gunby, Boston, Spalding, Crowland & Thorney ending with Peterborough Cathedral & a folk dance festival & home on the 8.30 train – we felt as if we’d had a fortnight in the country & it was just 24 hours.  It all looked lovely, & was all new to me. R is nice & brown!

Love

U.³

1.  Sir Augustus Mann.
2.  The second movement of Symphony no.6 (Pathétique).
3.  Postscript written on the back of the envelope by UVW.