THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

19th November, 1947.

Dear V.W.,

Thank you for your letter. I have had a talk with the Scott unit which has just returned from shooting in Norway. Daily conferences are now being held upon the script which is expected to reach its final form in a week or two.¹
It seems pointless to go into detail till some definition is reached, not to mention the probability that your Christmas austerities will put you more in tune with the privations of the Antarctic.
I should be most grateful if you would send me some tickets of entrance for the rehearsal of the new symphony. There is, unfortunately, a possibility that I may be recording some music for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ on that date, and that, of course, would prevent me from coming, but I shall do my best to keep it clear, and in any case some of our musical staff would welcome the privilege. I think some of the people who were at the panoforte rehearsal are due for a surprise or two.
I have had no luck so far with “The Poisoned Kiss”. Such friends of mine as dabble in Christmas productions seem to find this year’s prospects discouraging. Perhaps a little later on things may improve. Would you very much object to having the orchestral score reduced in size to fit these lean days?
I shall have seen you before you receive this,² and trust you will warn William not to bite his gold medal as Paerhman³ did, because the trophy is now made of nickel, and would hurt his teeth.
Yours sincerely

Ernest Irving

1. VW was to compose film music for Scott of the Antarctic.
2. VW was to present the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal to William Walton following a performance of his Viola Concerto by Frederick Riddle on 19th November.
3.  Sic – in fact Vladimir Pachmann (in 1916).