THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

November 30th 1957

Dear Joyce,

ST JOHN PASSION

February 15th 1958. St Martin’s Church, Dorking.
I do hope you are still free to sing the big aria in the St. John? Rehearsal as usual at 2.30 and performance at 7pm. Eileen McCarthy will be playing your obbligato.¹
Love from

Uncle Ralph

1.  Joyce Hooper had regularly sung the alto aria ‘Es ist vollbracht’ in Bach’s St John Passion in VW’s Dorking performances since 1944. See And Choirs Singing: An account of the Leith Hill Musical Festival 1905-1985, Leith Hill 1985, p.132. The viola da gamba obbligato was played on a ‘cello.