The Leonard Bernstein Letters (36 page)

Boy, are you lucky – the second letter from me in as many days. But I just got your note. And it was so good hearing from you that I just had to write.

I had no idea that your season was just 12 weeks. I did imagine though that the wages would be low, being paid by the city etc. Too bad you got going so late. Still, 12 weeks is a short season and it kills the season for a musician. I can see where it is hard getting the right players. What is the net result now? How do you stock up and can you whip them into something that satisfies you and that can play modern things? I think you can.

Here is my setup. Quite a while ago it was announced that men with 45 points up to May 12th and/or 50 up to Sept 2nd would not be sent overseas. I had 47 on the first count, 52 on the second. OK.

Today an order came out restricting to the camp area all men with between 45 and 59 points. These men (me) will be shipped someplace by the 24th – Monday (this being Thursday). So almost by the time you receive this I will be entrained for my new station. What, what, what for, or why for, I don't know. Maybe training cadre for new recruits or processing cadre for dischargees. I wish I knew. I don't, but I'll let you know along with my new address. Pray that I am shipped a few thousand miles
East
.

I was supposed to go to Frisco, Sunday through Thursday, for some kind of parade, but now it is off. I was planning to wire you tonight for Seymour's address.

After a month, a good month too, of feeling in contact and in tune and in love with Mad, I suddenly find myself out of contact. I wish I understood why. It has happened before, but without much reason, that has to do with thinking and dreaming too much about her. I don't know why this should have the effect it did, if it did. But that is the way it is. Here, away from you all, your memories
remain clear and bright for a while, then suddenly dim and it leaves me very much alone. But I am stronger now than ever and I don't feel unduly depressed.
I miss you all, and it all
.

I haven't slept well either. I sleep, yes. But not the timeless death sleep I used to sleep. When I wake up now I am aware of every hour, the full 8. The way it used to be, I felt as though I had just closed my eyes when I got up. Now it is like I feel when I am sleeping with someone, e.g., slightly conscious because of the fear of rolling too much and waking them up. And I dream now too. At my aunt Pauline I practically floated off the couch two nights in a row. And who was the lucky girl? Aunt Pauline. Aren't I awful though.

I'm looking for a score to
Daphnis
. Can you help without troubling too much.

Don't pills help your sleeping? Or don't you want to try that? When the season or the rehearsals begin you will be better. Meanwhile try doing one thing at a time, forgetting the rest and stop having emotional orgasms. Why you have done all you can, that is enough. Forget it and go to sleep, relax, play some game etc. Really, Lensky, you may be the world's best musician, but you need some looking after – and some common sense. After all what is
really
important. You, or whatever it is you are beating your head against the wall about?

And don't dare say I don't understand how much I don't understand how much it means to have the right kind of players etc. But a little horse sense, or you won't be conducting anything after 40. You'll have ulcers, diabetes, angina and coronary thrombosis etc. etc. etc. Christ man. Take it easy. Do I have to desert to see that you do?

Tell Shirley I'll write her soon. And hello to Helen please.

Love,

Dave

Dear Pete,
²⁵

I was asked by an organization in Boston to write to you for them. The United Order of True Sisters (in existence for 70 years and founded to benefit crippled children) would like to know if you could play for them – from 30 to 45 minutes – at a luncheon and meeting at the Copley Plaza – Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 29th. They want to pay you $200 plus all expenses. It is to be their biggest affair of the season and they naturally want a big attraction to help them
raise a lot of money. They maintain rooms in the Children's Hospital and work in conjunction with the Harvard Commission on infantile paralysis.

Of course I told them about the busy year you have ahead of you, etc., and that the date might conflict, etc., but I'd write you anyway.

I am in no way connected with this group so please don't feel that a refusal would in any way affect me personally – just do as you like about it. If you can make it, they'd like lighter stuff – some Chopin, your Liszt Rhapsodie, some boogie-woogie and you can talk too if you don't want to play all the time.

I know you're terribly busy these days, so have Helen drop me a note so that I can tell them your answer.

Things are getting gradually better all the time – had my first Hershey bar in years today – also had lunch with Re La Mi.
²⁶

Gonna see your ballet again next week – the same night as
Undertow
and
The Gift of the Magi
– Lukas conducts.

[…]

Best of luck for the orchestra. I know it will be a brilliant yearrrr. Will hear you in February. Take care of yourself and get some sleep some time.

Much love to you and Helen from

Mildred

Just learned with shock of Bartók's death.
²⁷
Would it be possible for us to give part of your program pair December 31 January 1 or failing that January 21, 22nd as Bartók memorial with one orchestral work and the Portrait in D major and Rhapsody #1 dedicated to me. Naturally no fee involved. These two works take only 19 minutes together. Am doing Berg memorial with Metropolis [Mitropoulos] General Motors December 30. Rhapsody which we played at Ravinia would have first New York performance.

Joseph Szigeti

Dear Len,

Just a few interestin' facts about some interestin' people we know.

I saw Seymour [Meyerson] in Frisco. Both he and the town are fine. I like him very much. We had a good time roller-coasting etc. […] That we missed you was obvious in the way the conversation kept turning back to you. He is a great guy, Len. An amazing combination of artiness and common everydayness, plus a healthy objective interest in people and things that make him nice to be with.

And the town is wonderful. I like the hills, water, fog, crooked angling streets, cable cars and the variety of good bars and restaurants. Lots of music too. If my aunt weren't here in L.A. I would go to S.F. on these 3 day passes. But I enjoy even more than S.F. a place to stay and vegetate. I hate the eternal search for rooms and walking lonely streets in search of companionship, that goes with being in a big town minus connections. And I could never get there enough to make any lasting ones.

I thought that your
P.M.
interview was swell, esp. the statement on government sponsorship of music and art etc. But tell me more. How would it work out in relation to other private endeavors as regards comparative wages and as to who is used etc. It could be another political football. I am definitely interested in the idea though.

That is all! You don't deserve more.

Love,

Dave

Tell Shirl that I will write, and soon.

Hello Helen!

Dave Dollink,

You dope. I've been delaying writing you in hopes of receiving your new address. Your last letter said you were on your way – and here you are, exactly as before. Anyway, it's a pleasure to have word again.

I'm awfully happy that you and Seymour [Meyerson] hit it off. He's a top-notch kid, and so are you, of course, so it's a natural. I did receive your little recordings, but they wouldn't make [i.e. work] on my machine. Finally (yesterday) I hit on a plan for making them go, and was finally able to distinguish some highly hysterical (or drunk) carrying-on about roller-coasters & trolleys. But you both talk simultanacklach, so most of it is lost to posterity. Excellent spirit, though.

Tonight's my big, big night.
²⁸
I'm a nervous wreck, but the orchestra is so fabulous and excited and young and interested and in tune and precise and enthusiastic, etc., etc., that if it's not a hit tonight I won't understand it. (Aaron's
Outdoor Overture
, Shostakovich 1st [Symphony], Brahms 2nd [Symphony].) And the latter is a joy.

You really ought to hear it. Aaron was at the rehearsal this morning, and said – “At last we have American Brahms – lyrical, like a popular song.” I'm happy.

I miss you like the devil. So what
is
happening to you? Don't be so vague.

Ewige Liebe,

Lenny.

Your remarks on government subsidy are to the point. It's a matter of reconciling this with the popular interpretation of the “democratic method”. I'm thinking of agitating for a public referendum in NYC. Much love – and if you come across the article on me in
Collins'
disregard half of it as pure invention.

Dear Leonard,

At long last, here is your “personality analysis”. I cannot take these things seriously but they are wonderful fun especially since the person who did it does not know to whom the doodling belongs.

According to the analysis it looks as tho you must face the fact that you definitely fit into the genius category. As far as I am concerned from what I heard in your conducting the other night, you do.

I hope to see you at the party after my recital on the 12th.

Regards,

Rosalyn

Dear Lenny,

I am delighted that I have at last succeeded in wresting [Harl] McDonald's
³⁰
permission to play the Bartók pieces with you on March 4th and 5th – that is, a fortnight before my appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. I am intensely looking forward to doing the Bartóks with you; you know how much he means to me.

I hope that Elkan Vogel of Philadelphia has already sent you the Bartók
Portrait
Opus Five [No. 1]. It was at Bartók's express wish that I revived this forgotten piece of his in Budapest in 1939. He was present at the rehearsals and of course at the concert too, and admitted that this forgotten youthful work of his still meant a great deal to him. (I think it must have been written around 1905 or 6.)

In the score he gave me, he made a few slight retouches which I will show you in December when I am playing in New York with Mitropoulos. He cuts out the two trombones on page 13, and the first harp – i.e. one of the two harps – on page 15.

As to rehearsals, here is my schedule immediately before our concert: February 26th, Baltimore; 27th, Washington; March 1st afternoon, Baltimore, Peabody; March 3d Sunday afternoon, New York City, Frick Museum. So you can dispose of my time, say on Saturday afternoon, March 2d, and Monday and Tuesday morning.

All good wishes, and au revoir in December.

Yours ever,

Jóska

Dollink Dovidl,

I'm a swine. I haven't written a word in almost a month. Which is not to say that I wasn't thrilled at this seeming prelude to a discharge – or is it? And which is not to say that I miss you like crazy, & wish you home, and in my magnificent orchestra. Of course there would be union difficulties, since I don't suppose you're in this local. That's a big headache. Same is true of Jesse Ehrlich, who is getting out next week. I have huge hopes & plans for next season – all my favorite guys in the orchestra, 24 weeks at least, a commercial radio sponsorship, which looks very likely, and a greatly increased Victor recording contract, which I've already got.

Seymour [Meyerson] has
not
been here, but seems to be arriving this week – just when I'm about to leave for a week in your favorite city of Rochester. I'm doing
Jeremiah
there for the first time, with a mezzo soprano named Zelda Goodman, a student at the school. She's sweet, and it ought to be fun. Last week was Cincinnati – great triumph – and this week I had my 3rd pair with my
own
– do you hear? – my own orchestra. They're the best yet. So much love for music makes them sound as no other organization. And I could still use you in it. And how.

I've just returned from a run-through of Adolph & Betty's new show.
³¹
It's a killer, a beast, and slumps only in regard to the score, which is fine but dullish, like so much Gould.
³²
If that boy had an iota of real
personal personality
he'd be the best one around. But, alas.

Be a good guy and don't copy my delay in writing. Aren't you ever coming back –

All my love,

L