THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

March 26th 1956.

Dear John,

It was good of you to telegraph.  I can’t express how I appreciate your kindness in allowing me to try my ’prentice hand on your famous orchestra and choir.  They were all splendid and saw me through to what I believe was victory, – though I nearly died at the end of it.  Bardgett was splendid.¹
We are looking forward to May.²
Love to Evelyn, who was angelic to us, and to you, from us both.
[RVW]

1.  Herbert Bardgett had prepared the Hallé chorus for the performance of the St Matthew Passion which VW conducted in Manchester on 18 March.  See VWL3311, R.V.W.: a biography, pp.369-370 and Works of Vaughan Williams, p.334.
2.  The premier of the Eighth symphony was to be on 2 May in Manchester.