THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Sep 8 [1935]

Dear Nevinson¹
I believe the opera² is going through if financial details between Cambridge and the OUP can be fixed up.³  I met the proposed producer Mrs Prior at Worcester⁴ and I gave her my ideas about costumes, scenery etc, saying of course that I spoke without the author’s authority⁵ and that she might have very different ideas.  I hope it will eventually come off.⁶
I venture to send my love to Evelyn Sharp.
Yrs
R Vaughan Williams

1. Writer, and, since 1933, husband of Evelyn Sharp.
2. The Poisoned Kiss
3. Cambridge University Musical Society were planning a performance, encouraged by Hubert Foss of Oxford University Press.
4. Vaughan Williams attended the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester in 1935.
5. The libretto was by Evelyn Sharp.
6. The opera received its first performance on 12 May 1936 at the newly built Cambridge Arts Theatre.