THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Glendorgal, St Columb Minor,
Nr Newquay, Cornwall.

April 29th 1955

Dear Margery, 

                                               Very confidential
 
I have been invited to conduct the Passion at Manchester on Holy Thursday, March 29th 1956 with rehearsals spreading over the previous week.  Am I to be invited to conduct the Passion at Dorking?  And if so, could it be arranged so that it will not clash with that week?¹
By the way I am planning an expedition abroad after Easter which may possibly clash with Festival week.²
Love

Uncle Ralph

1. VW was to conduct the St Matthew Passion in Manchester with the Hallé choir and orchestra. See R.V.W.: a biography, pp. 369-370. He had resigned as chief conductor to Leith Hill Musical Festival in 1953 and now conducted the Passion by invitation, which he continued to do until the last year of his life. In the event the Manchester performance took place on 18th March 1956; see VWL3086.
2. The VWs went to Majorca in the late spring of 1956 and were there when the news of Gerald Finzi’s death reached them.