THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

?October 1907]

My Dearest Randolph

How nice of you to write – I wish you c^d have been there – they sang & played magnificently – but the 20 minutes I stood there conducting was like 1000 years of purgatory.  The Times praised too much – several papers were sniffy & some good – the audience seemed to like it – but that may have been to encourage me.
– But after all its only a step & I’ve got to do something really big some-time – I think I am improving – it ‘came off’ better than my earlier things used to.
Give my love to Iris and take an equal share yourself – good luck for the future – I know you must be having an anxious time – I long to see you again.
Yrs

R.V.W.

I was so glad Adeline saw you both – she did enjoy it so
A. is sending you a selection of cuttings.  C^d you send them back, as we have not always other copies.

1. This letter refers to the first performance of Toward the Unknown Region, at Leeds Town Hall on 10th October 1907 – though the duration in Catalogue of Works is given as 11½ minutes.