The Leonard Bernstein Letters (41 page)

Dear Serge Alexandrovich,

In my excitement about answering your last letter I completely forgot to tell you the most exciting news of all – that I have become engaged to a wonderful girl from South America named Felicia Montealegre. We plan to be married in June, when I return from Europe. I am very happy, and I hope you will be.

This news seems to have leaked out into the papers already
⁷⁶
– and I did want to be the first to tell you, before you might read it. But this has been impossible, since I have been stranded for five days all over the Southwest due to bad flying weather. My plane kept stopping and stopping; so I spent one night in Texas, another in Arkansas, another sitting up on bad trains, and so on. But I am finally here in Cincinnati, tired but happy, and I have had my first two rehearsals today. The orchestra needs a great deal of work, but they respond well, and I hope for an exciting concert.

I am staying with friends who have a wonderful big farm where I can rest a day or two before going to Chicago. Everyone here seems very satisfied with Thor [Johnson]'s appointment, including most of the orchestra men. It was a wonderful move on their part, and a difficult one to make because of the natural opposition to the appointment of a young American. It took courage, and I am sure Thor's success will justify the appointment in every way.
⁷⁷

Dear Lenny,

I just received your very sweet letter. It was wonderful to hear from you. Lenny, we all miss you very much. Ethel and Saul
⁷⁹
talk of you all the time and last night we played the
Jeremiah
twice, after which we decided to build you a city.

I am so glad we became friends, and I hope I see a lot more of you, though it seems no one gets that privilege for long.

Felicia told us about your horrible New Year's. I wish you could have stayed. We all had such a wonderful time.

I am having dinner with Felicia tonight. She is a great girl, and I'm sure loves you very much.

Your letter was late because it went to the studio first.

Lenny thank you for being so kind, and please write when you can.

Rurally yours,

Farley

Dear Leonard,

There are three reasons which impel me to send these lines to you – and I don't know which to name first – yes – I think I do – it's your engagement to be married.

Mrs. [Kate] Ratcliffe confirmed what I had read in the
Times
. I am never certain when such items appear in the daily press, but I do
believe
Mrs. Ratcliffe so here are the very heartiest good wishes for your, and your sweetheart's, happiness – and may it continue to the end of time. I know she is lovely or you would not have chosen her.

Thanks over and over for the fine
Leonore III
Overture. I sat here along with my best concert concentration and listened reverently and so admiringly for your really wonderful Beethoven VIIth. No one could have conducted it better: it was a delight and I wish I could have joined the Providence audience in applauding.

I fear I shall not hear the next radio concert on Tuesday, for I shall be with relatives in New York and Heaven only knows what my granddaughter has planned for that evening.

Will you conduct the Bostonians in New York? If so, I simply
must
get into the hall – but how? I know the concerts are sold out. Has the conductor enough influence to melt Mr. Judd's icy heart and have him sell me a seat anywhere in the Hall? I shall be in New York from Feb 3 to Feb 17th and I am hoping that your New York concerts come during these dates.

That you should be conducting that great orchestra for a month is a real triumph – and you – a youngster – under thirty.

My thanks for the pleasure you gave last Tuesday, and much love from

Leonore III

Lenny, my darling, my darling!

First of all, today is my birthday – I am a quarter of a century old, a very frightening fact! It is also a year ago that I sat at your feet, a little drunk but terribly exhilarated at the Arraus'. All day I've been wanting to telephone you and it took a lot of self control not to do so – it seemed rather silly. However …

Just came back from the Kellys [Gene and Betsy] where I saw – yes –
Of Mice & Men
– I feel drained and weak, it's so
great
! It's difficult to believe that it came out of Hollywood. I kept thinking of you all through it and listening attentively to Aaron's fabulous score, and remembering the things you had mentioned and loved.

The biggest thing that has happened to me since you left is the most beautiful, warm, affectionate black cocker spaniel puppy in the world who is at this moment biting at my pen while I write. She's mine, my very own! I bought her a week ago having fallen in love at first sight (pedigree papers and all for $35). Stanley Donen
⁸¹
christened her Nebish, which she isn't at all but the name stuck. I didn't know whether I'd be able to keep her at first (as a matter of fact it still isn't certain). I've gone through tortures because of David, who I am convinced now is verging on insanity. He decided to cross Joanie who was with me when I bought her and loved the idea of a puppy; he reacted in such a strange way and in a Captain Bligh fashion, told me I must “get rid of her” cause she would interfere with his
work!
She's been such a good girl though (of course I'm constantly taking her out) and I haven't found anyone who'll take care of her for me until my life is settled – he hasn't brought the subject up again, but I'm living with a Damocles' sword precariously swinging over my head. I refuse to give her up – we've become inseparable. You'd love her – everybody does (except David of course). A propos, I could talk to you about him for hours – he really worries me. I think he's quite sick.

Oh sweetie – your concert! I finally heard it last Tuesday. It's useless to even try to tell you how magnificent it was – j'étais tellement fière de toi! I'm dying to hear the next – it's so frustrating to know you've already played it and we don't hear it till next week!

Stanley gave me a party at his apartment last night – I didn't know it was for me until midnight when for no apparent reason the lights were turned off and in comes Gene with a lighted cake which Betsy baked herself, and everybody
singing the “happy, happy”. I fought back the usual tears but could have bawled for hours – aren't they wonderful? Tonight Joan had a special dinner for me – just us and Adolph [Green] and Allyn [Ann McLerie] – with another cake and more candles to blow and wishes granted. It was sweet, but I could have felt more cheerful. Sometimes I miss you so much I actually feel sick to my stomach.

Your father gave me the surprise of my life – such a nice affectionate letter – I just loved him for it.

Thank you for the check. The great Montealegre career is at a complete standstill – I am seriously contemplating going back, defeated but healthy! The only trouble is though that I won't get a job in New York either! Oh
shit
.

I will have you know for further reference that I have a learner's permit and will have a license next week. I drive alone all over the place, up hill and down dale, heavy traffic and all – and I'm
great
! So there!!

What's with you? You never really tell me how you feel – is that so difficult? I don't believe it. Are you still terribly worried and depressed about things, or have you decided not to think about it at all. I keep wondering about you and wishing I could be with you – you always sound so happy and communicative over the telephone, but unfortunately your letters leave me “con gusto a poco!” I know, you warned me.

When are you due back in New York – please write me soon, this place is bad enough without your making things worse.

My love to your family – of course it's good to be home again. I rather envy you. Where's Shirley and what are her plans?

Boss darling – good night – much much love and many many kisses.

Fely

Lennie,

How really thoughtful of you to write me about my attempt to be a pianist in
Deception
. From you it meant very much, as you can imagine. You were conducting in Boston the other day – and here I am with my project sitting not far away – and unable to come down and hear you. I would have so much loved it. You are doing wonderful things and I am always somewhere else. I read about it though and always the things said are complimentary – and of course I think that is as it should be. Your signed photograph is now on my wall – and a proud
possession. It is really exciting about the baby – and so unbelievable to me – but at this point there is definite evidence so I must believe it.

Really so many thanks for your letter – I beamed for days.

Love,

Bette

Dear H,

I. Testimonial for [Menahem] Pressler:
A genuine pianistic poet.

II. The Palestine program, as I recall, is:

Schumann #2

Jeremiah

Ravel Concerto.

III. Brussels: Everything seems to be by Aaron or me! I would like to divide the program into three parts, for instance:

Movies
: Copland (both suites) appr. 20 min.

Ballet
: Fancy Free (appr. 25 min.)

Theatre
: Gershwin–Bennett Porgy (appr. 14′)

This would make a nice program, but short (roughly an hour). If satisfactory, this should be it. Otherwise I'll have to cast about for another ballet & play
On the Town
with
Porgy
.
Undertow
is a possibility, but I don't like it. Furthermore, to be really representative about American film music, I
should
play something like the
Spellbound
score,
⁸⁴
but I can't stand that kind of Hollywood stuff. Which leaves only Aaron, which precludes a Copland ballet. Would you explain all this to the man and get his reaction?

IV. The PCA
⁸⁵
business is cleared. All is set for March 25th, I believe.

V. Diamond. I think someone should be put in charge of a fund – not us: we've had our share. Won't Margaret do it? Or, if not, Olga or Mrs. Hirschman. I think musicians should be tapped first; Rodzinsky, Szell, Monteux, Kouss, Dimitri, also Smallens etc. – all the conductors who have ever played D's music. Also composers: Alec Wilder, Hanson, Goddard Lieberson, etc., etc. I think
chief
contributor should be Alice Berezowsky.
⁸⁶
I'm serious: she started it.

VI. We are staying overnight in or around Vassar after the concert, leaving next day for Providence. I could go back to N.Y. with you if you can get me a flight to Prov[idence] next day. Although it makes a lot of extra traveling. Don't you think it's simpler to stay over?

Love,

L

Dollink Lennie,

What is there to say?

You are brilliant, brash, you (28) – I am fat, old (49 ½)
⁸⁷
and feeble. In short, what is there to say?

Betty & I are Hollywood successes, it seems.
Good News
is about to go before the camera, causing a minor revolution at M.G.M. No picture has ever before been done there without 4 years of preparation, 15 scripts, etc., etc.

Now we are grappling with the horns of an Arthur Freed dilemma. We've been offered a second picture, at mightily increased salaries, and a plum it is by M.G.M. standards: a G-R-E-E-A-A-T-T SCREEN CREDIT.
Easter Holiday
⁸⁸
– with J. Garland, G. Kelly, F. Sinatra, K. Grayson.
⁸⁹
All songs by Irving Berlin & we would have to work with Irving B. – naturally we won't stay in Hollywood but Freed has told us that he can arrange for us to write the bulk of it in N.Y. We are therefore tempted.

Maybe we'll write this thing & be finished just in time for us to write a big, successful show together next winter.

Glad that I didn't marry A.A.
⁹⁰
out here – double, double doubts – but
away with them!!

I feel completely sure now that I want to marry her, and I'm very anxious to get back and do it.
⁹¹

Will you be around at the end of March? We'll make it then. You must be on hand.

Love to everyone,

Adolph

There's an item in the Sunday
Times
about the Hammerstein Rodgers show
Allegro
. Rodgers says “it will combine dance, music and drama as an integrated unit”.
⁹²

About time too. It's an unprecedented notion, very daring, never before attempted – Ahhhh! – shit, fuck, balls!!!

P.S. I love you.

Our associate producer, one Roger Edens,
⁹³
is a great fan of yours, but very displeased with your Boston program. He complains about that Beethoven & Schubert junk and feels it's ruining your career to have to play it. I'm just passing along this opinion for what it's worth. Stick to the moderns, he says.

Chère Re-La-Mi [written in musical notation: D-A-E, i.e. Re-La-Mi],

Thinking of you on this ghastly train (ghastly pen!), even to the point of recalling your address. So many things made me think of you – a man from Baltimore next to me at lunch,
Homemade pies
on the menu; Claude's appearance backstage in Symphony Hall – etc. etc.
⁹⁴

I'm beginning a week's tour with the Rochester orch. and I'm up to my neck in penicillin. Overtired, I guess, and inevitable consequences. I'll live.

Will I see you before I go to Europe April 9th?

Love,

Spooky