| Content | Bohuslav Martinů has just received the dictionary and extracts of HER O MARIA, thank you very much. He will still need the scores and translation. He is wondering if it would be better if a New York theatre (such as the New York Center Theatre) would directly ask to borrow the material. So the opera will not be performed next season, perhaps next year. He himself would approach the Ministry in this matter, but he does not know to whom in particular - perhaps to the gentleman who made it possible for him to [send] JULIETTE. Karel Šebánek should write to him. Juliette may be staged at the City Center Opera, but he does not know who will represent her in America since BM is not currently working with Boosey & Hawkes. BM wants to withdraw from OSA for financial reasons and move to ASCAP. It's nice of them to send money [to Polička], but BM also wants something for herself. BM hopes they won't cause any problems. Jan Löwenbach told him that there are no contracts with them, that only a membership was signed. He would like to have this settled before he leaves New York (May 5). He is going to Europe on May 10. He will be in France for a month, then would like to go to Italy. He gives addresses where KS can write to him. He will meet Ernst Roth in Paris, and invites KS to meet him. They could negotiate [with B&H]. BM also has some chances with Ricordi & Co. BM thinks that the youth would need someone to teach them to compose, but there is a catch [? - no further comment]. The Field Mass was a great success. B&H have published the score and piano lift of THE BRIDGE OF THE BRIDGE. BM wrote new comedies on Gogol and Tolstoy [WHAT PEOPLE LIVE FOR; MARRIAGE - date of composition!] He's looking for a subject for a grand opera, he has possibilities there. BM hopes KS has heard about the tragic death of Anton Cheika (suicide). The painter Alois Kohout, calling himself Lecoque, has suddenly appeared in NY. He doesn't have much good news from home, everyone is sick. KS has to tell Josef Páleníček that BM doubts he will come. But next year he'll probably go to Europe for the whole year. |