| Content | In the new year, Bohuslav Martinů summarizes all his complaints and unresolved issues aimed at Ernest Roth (Boosey & Hawkes, London). BM asks what's going on with the opera MIRANDOLINA, he hasn't even seen the piano score, which should have been done a long time ago. He asks the ER to clarify this matter.
BM is bombarded with letters from Brno with demands for a premiere. BM heard that a theater in Germany (perhaps Frankfurt) had asked David Diamond to write Locandiera, which worries him.
BM asks what happened to the piano concerts and whether they are ready to release them (ER states in the answer from 3.3.58 that they have only PIANO CONCERT No. 3).
BM asks ER for a clear statement, whether they are still interested in his work and what their next plans are, this situation is for BM not advantageous.
BM asks about the fate of SYMPHONY No. 2 and 3, which are still unreleased for an unknown reason. BM regrets that it is not possible to publish the pocket version of SYMPHONY No. 6 and points out that he received only 2 copies of this score.
BM asks if both operas MARRIAGE and WHAT MAN LIVE BY are without a chance of success ("dead duck").
BM asks for these issues to be solved as soon as possible and wishes all the best in 1958. |
| Transcription of the letter | January 4. 1958.
Dear Ernest:
I think with this New Year we should make a new arrangement and settle all the questiones en suspence definitely and not to speak about them any more [sic]. So we will be quiet the whole year.
The questions are follows: There is a problem called Locandiera, which is getting a little old and still unsolved. What happen to this opera. I didn’t even see the piano-score, which should be ready longtime [sic] ago. And didn’t hear about it as if it didn’t existe. Please eclaire me at that subject.
From Brno they bombarde me with letters they would like to have the premiere I heard that a thetre [sic] in Germany ask Diamond to write L’candiera (Frankfort?) and am really pretty troubled about this work.
Another question is about the Piano*Concerto or concerti. What happened with them, are you ready to publish them or ready to forget it? I see that you have lost all interest in me, probably you prefer now the music dodecafonic?
Anyway I would like to know what are your plans and if you feel that you are not interested, just tell me and will try to manage the whole thing differently[,] also for my profit, you certainly understand that I do not like my score to be in the desk closed, because there is a demande for these concerti.
The same is about others score, the second and third Symphony are still unpublished and I cannot see when they shall?
I am sorry you cannot publish the pocket score of Fantaisies, it would help. By the way I received only two score of this piece.
And both operas, Marriage and What men live by are dead duck.??
So you can see I have plenty of complaints and start the New Year by emmbarasing you but, please, be a good boy and let me know frankly about all these unfinished projects very soon.
Now I am still here with my best wishes for the 1958 for you and Madame.
Sincerely
yours
[Podpis v.r.:] B. Martinů
B. Martinu
Schonenberg.
Pratteln. Switzerland.
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