THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Sunday [4th May 1941]

My Dear

Jean¹ gave me the delightful book, which just suited me after conducting. I am so glad you are having a holiday with Michael.² Let me have all your news & ring me up when you come back to London. Messiah³ went very well – but chorus No 2 was not quite so good – I had tea & lunch with the orchestra & got through a lot of embracing!
Yrs

RVW

1. Jean Stewart, dedicatee of the second string quartet.
2. Michael Wood, UW’s husband.
3. During the war the Leith Hill Musical Festival was reduced in scope to two performances of a choral work. In 1941 the Messiah was given. See And Choirs Singing: An account of the Leith Hill Musical Festival 1905-1985 (Leith Hill, 1985), p.25, though the date for Messiah – in conflict with the appendix of this published account (p.130) and the evidence of this letter – is given there as 1942.