THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

[2nd May 1951]

Dear Gil

You know, I hope by now, how much I value your opinion – & when your opinion turns to praise I am indeed happy.¹
I listened in last night – & felt I was hearing for the 1^st time (you know that in the theatre I really cannot hear it owing to my deafness) – It was a splendid reception. I heard every word & the balance of orchestra & stage 1^st rate.²
Yrs

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Jenkins had probably sent a letter about Pilgrim’s Progress; he had attended the first night with VW and others.
2. This seems to refer to the broadcast performance of Pilgrim’s Progress on 30th April, although it is implied in R.V.W.: a biography, p.308, that VW was at the actual performance and not at home listening in with Adeline. [UVW says a note in her diary indicates that she was at Dorking on 1st May and listened to the Broadcast too, although it was not apparently broadcast on that day.] The performance was also broadcast on 26 April; it appears that VW, UVW and AVW all listened on 30 April. VW writes that AVW heard Pilgrim’s Progress twice over the wireless (VWL4859) which supports this hypothesis.