Royal Opera House

Covent Garden London WC2

11th February, 1957.

Telephone: Covent Garden 1200

Telegrams: Amidstrand

Signor B. Martinů,

American Academy,

5 Via Angelo Masina,

Rome 28.

My dear Friend,

Thank you very much indeed for your twu letters. I am very happy that there is even a possibility of negotiating about the new opera, though of course I must say right away that the Board of Directors here seems rather on the cold side about a new production of a contemporary piece during the coming season. Evein if I do my very utmost to persuade Webster and the Board to do this world première I honestly do not see much prospect of putting it into the winter season. In any case I imagine you might not like that, since it is a big undertaking to get the material ready in time. 

As you know, we are celebrating the centenary of this Opera House in 1958, and the big climax will come in the summer. From my point of view I would like to do your opera then, but whether I will be successful in this depends on many things, especially money. 

I have already received the score of “Otvírání studánek;” thank you very much. I am enjoying it tremendously, and I think it is a lovely piece. Pravá “lidovka”!

I have just found out that the score and the parts of the new piano concerto are with Mrs. Fagin at Columbia Artists Management in New York, and I have written for the score, so that I can study it carefully in good time for the European première in the summer. 

Best love to you and Charlotte, in which Ludmila joins me.

Yours

jako vždy

starej prevít

Ráfa



[české pasáže dopsány ručně, stejně jako česká diakritika]