THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

March 25 [1939]

Dear Iris

‘Windsor Forest’ takes about 25 minutes so I think we ought to allow 50 for rehearsal – but I will no be longer than I can help.¹
The orchestra was 1^st rate on Thursday.²
Yrs

Uncle Ralph

1. In the hand of AVW to this point, then in the hand of VW.
2. Lemare’s note: “This was a very special concert in my life. It would have made a great difference to me  – had the war not happened 6 months later. It is also precious as it was a “shared” concert with Ralph. I had done all the “donkey work” at the Lewes Festival, preparing the orchestra there for years. This concert the cttee decided to forego a soloist and instead get a first class professional orchestra and give me the chance to conduct it.”  “It was more or less the “London Phil” … Ralph conducted “Windsor Forest” and I did the rest [Overture – concerto – de Falla “El Amor Brujo”]. In the train going back on my own the leader – David Macallum – found me – and gave me a terrific boost and said he would see the manager about a concert with them. Of course it never happened! – but this was 1939 and could have boosted woman conductors”.