THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Thursday [May 27 1948]

Belov Boo
Thank you so much for returning Musical Times¹ – I thought it good enough to cut out & keep tho’ R said he didn’t want it.
[…]
R viewed Job² from the tier above the boxes – good for sound & he even heard the oboe w^h is a major difficulty with him. It wasn’t a Rolls R³ evening – he went by 4.18 took Fanny⁴ to M.M.⁵ & he caught the 9.18 train home – Programmes 6^d every seat filled even to the slips. Meanwhile I listened in to Otello⁶ with the score and the evening went quickly – I couldn’t face the end w^h R said I oughtn’t to have missed.
Today Betty M^cConchy (Lefanu) is coming with her new Symph⁷ – so R will have an exacting after[noon] but he is very fond of her so she is welcome.
[…]

1. The May issue of the Musical Times carried a long article by William McNaught about the Sixth Symphony.
2. Job had its first revival in May 1948 at the Royal Opera House.
3. VW kept a Rolls Royce for Beagley to drive.  AVW is saying that VW went by train.
4. Frances Farrer
5. Mainly Musicians, a club to which VW belonged.

6. Otello was broadcast on the Home Service at 7.50 on Wednesday 26 May.
7. Probably her Symphony no. 2, later withdrawn.