General information
Type of the document Letter
SenderKubelík, Rafael
Sender (corporation)Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Sender‘s locationLondon
Send date11.02.1957
RecipientMartinů, Bohuslav
Recipient (corporation)
Recipient‘s locationRome
LanguageEnglish
Language 2Czech
AcquiredCBM, 2005
Owner of the sourceCentrum Bohuslava Martinů v Poličce
Owner‘s call numberPBM Kd 158
Former call number at IBM30/A/33
Call number at IBMKub 1957-02-11
Content and physical description
ContentKubelík thanks BM for two letters. There is a possibility of negotiating the performance of a new (unnamed) opera by BM [Greek Passion, 1st version] at the Royal Opera House, although the Board of Directors is not very keen on staging new contemporary works in the coming season. Even if Kubelík makes every effort to convince Webster and the Board of Directors, he honestly does not see any prospect of including (the new opera) in the plan for the winter season [1958] (which would also be a major commitment in terms of obtaining the material in time). Next year [1958], however, will be the 100th anniversary of the Opera House and there will be grand celebrations culminating in the summer. He would like to stage BM's new opera then, but whether he will be successful depends on many things, especially finances.

Kubelík has already received the score of The Opening of the Springs, which he thanks for. Kubelík has already found out where the score and parts for the new piano concerto are located – with a certain Mrs. Fagin at Columbia Artists Management in New York. He has written to request the score, so he will be able to study it in time for the European premiere in the summer [1957].
Transcription of the letter

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]


Total number of leaves1
Number of pages bearing text1
FixationTypewriting, handwritten signature
Digitisation
Quality of digitisationProfessional
Digitized atBohuslav Martinů Centre

Preview only available at the Institute.

Person as subject
Webster, Beveridge
Composition as subject
The Opening of the Springs / The Opening of the Wells, H 354
The Greek Passion, 1st version, H 372 I
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