THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

[16 June 1958]

Dear Michael

Richter
When I was young the only orchestra concerts (except the Phil: which did not count) were Manns¹ (Crystal Palace) and Richter with Henschel a little later – so we had no real standard of comparison.  But I felt that at all events in Wagner & Beethoven you heard not an “individual reading” – but the music itself – and that’s what mattered both for Richter & audience – I felt with him as with no other conductor that he never got between you and the composer
– It was always straight-forward with no monkey-tricks and intensely satisfying – a feeling which no other conductor has given me.
He used the old fashioned walking-stick baton for a straight-forward business-like beat
I only once remember his using any showmanship when he used to let the orchestra play the 5/4 Tschaikowsky without (manually) beating² – of course he did a good deal of conducting in the movement with his eyelid & little finger – but the audience thought it wonderful.  I’m sorry I have so little to tell you – it’s more than 50 years ago
My love to Eslyn – it will be lovely to meet at Cheltenham
Yrs

RVW

Just back from a lovely flash round the Fens – Lincoln, Tattershall, Gunby, Boston, Spalding, Crowland & Thorney ending with Peterborough Cathedral & a folk dance festival³ & home on the 8.30 train – we felt as if we’d had a fortnight in the country & it was just 24 hours.  It all looked lovely, & was all new to me. R is nice & brown!

Love

U.⁴

1.  Sir Augustus Mann.
2.  The second movement of Symphony no.6 (Pathétique).
3. The English Folk Dance and Song Society (Midland area) folk dance festival was held in Peterborough Cathedral cloisters on Saturday 14 June as part of Peterborough’s Commonwealth Festival.
4.  Postscript written on the back of the envelope by UVW.