THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

May 22nd [1958]

Dearest Michael & Eslyn

Lovely letters – one about the Partita came in from Ischia.  We had a day in Naples & went to Amalfi, & saw the Siren islands, mysterious on the silky sea, under huge cliffs.
Its also lovely to be home, the may all out, & the trees ravishingly green.  Don Carlos, and Tristan¹ & the Cherry Orchard² coming along & we’ve had a singery,³  & the house is all clean & fresh.
So all is fine, & Ralph splendid, & the opera cracking along.⁴
We think of you both so much, & send our fond love.
U.

1.  Operas by Verdi (Don Carlos, 1884) and Wagner (Tristan und Isolde, 1865), respectively.
2.  The play by Chekhov.
3.  The VWs had people in regularly to sing madrigals at 10 Hanover Terrace and called these evenings ‘singeries’.
4.  The unfinished opera Thomas the Rhymer.