The Leonard Bernstein Letters (44 page)

Dear H,

This is it – le jour de départ to be carried off by the Orient Express into the wilderness of Europe. Nobody knows what will happen. Everyone secretly expects war, but is afraid to say so to himself. It is obvious here that the entire war-plan is being instigated and manufactured in America. There is no need for it – but I have a horrible feeling that America will have its way. God forbid.

These last days in Paris have been pure heaven. I haven't begun to see everyone I wanted to see – but I've spent much time with Ellen [Adler] (who sends you all her love) and François [Valéry] and my wonderful shipboard roommate, and my darling Comtesse Marie-Blanche [de Polignac] (and her big Sunday evening last night to which I took Ellen, and where I sang them the
Bonne Cuisine
) and Nadia [Boulanger] and Otis Bigelow. It's been exciting and warm, & Paris is breathtaking.

The traveling plans became complicated at one point – (Milan to Budapest) – of course – because a train would take me through Yugoslav territory, & no Yugoslav permit is faintly possible. I finally found a way to take a train to Zurich, then fly (the next day) to Prague, then to Budapest. This means a Czech permit, & four hours of waiting around the Czech Consulate, plus many grey & pink and mauve cards for the Russian Zone, where I may still be held. But I've made good friends at the American Embassy and they've helped a lot. At least I'll have a night in Switzerland.

The big news is that I may have
two
concerts in Paris – the other with the Conservatoire (and Neveu) on the 30th! Sudden cancellation. I'll know in a few days. It would make an awful scramble (8 rehearsals in 3 days), but I'm game, if it means a public concert. You know, I suppose, that the Radio concert is again without public.

Well – I'm off to the hinterland, and I'll make every effort to come back.

Love to all & you,

L

Dear A,

These should either thrill, amuse or infuriate you. Imagine making an Italian debut with
Appalach
e! [i.e.
Appalachian Spring
] I love the one that wonders what a “Balletto per Marta” is, and the one that says it reminds them of American movies, and the one that thinks I'm 6 feet tall.

Anyway, it was a wild success, as was Munich (which was a real international problem), and now on to Budapest. It's all exciting as hell, and I'll write you at length later. My train leaves for Zurich in half an hour.

Love love love,

L

Best to V[ictor] K[raft].

If you don't want to keep these notices, send them to Helen C., please?

Dear H,

They say there hasn't been such a scene in a Budapest concert hall since Toscanini was here. The audience stamped & shouted, & especially for Bartók, which they say has never really been heard until I did it, although it's always being played here. Well – another one under the belt. Everyone is wild with excitement. I've never known what success was before this. […]

The
Times
story on Munich is garbled, but good to see.
¹²¹
I think the Tanglewood programs are perfect. I'm eating like a king. Of course, I'm a bit tired and rushed (
three
rehearsals yesterday!) but so happy. Budapest is ugly & beautiful together.

If Shirley wants to join me in Holland or Paris do have her come. Just get her on a plane or something. She seems to need it, and I would love to see her here.

The bobby-soxers tonight beat everything I've ever seen. I'm exhausted. Off to bed; tomorrow on to Vienna. I'm crossing my fingers for
that
one.

Love,

L

What iron curtain? It's only cellophane.

Dear H,

So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. I didn't write from Vienna since everything is censored from & to that city (all your clippings and notes bore the stamp of the censor!) – and besides I had quite a hectic time. It was the toughest city of all to conquer – a chauvinistic, provincial, nationalistic town, convinced that only Viennese can do anything at all, and that all Americans are fools. There was a mess over the program (I suddenly found myself saddled with a violin soloist) – and the orchestra was exhausted (five different concerts that one week, with 5 conductors and 12 rehearsals!) and besides they were all very antipathetic. It's the first time it ever took me 3 rehearsals to overcome the natural hostility of an orchestra, but we made it! Love & music conquered all; and the concert turned out a great triumph. I had been forewarned that nobody ever goes to concerts any more in Vienna for lack of money (even Bruno Walter's second concert was only half full – for the Mahler!!)
¹²²
– but still I had an almost sold-out house. Of course, the violinist helped – he's been there before. And he turned out to be good, despite the fact that we had to do the Dvořák Concerto! The final trouble was that I had to cancel
Jeremiah
– it would have been impossible in the rehearsals and with such a hostile, exhausted orchestra. It's just as well: the house came down, and, as the manager said, “Ganz Wien in ein' Schlag!”
¹²³
The political situation is a horror: more of that later. I have learned and learned and become very sad. It looks fairly hopeless at the moment.

I was
furious
at the
Times
announcement that I had accepted the C[ity] C[enter]. What crust! How dare they! Mortie [Newbold Morris] should be strung up. What will Palestine think – that I accepted the orchestra just for a gag? It's psychologically horrible for them – and I do hope you'll make it clear to the Palestine people that this story is false. It's the last straw.

The orchestra here is angelic. They learned
Jeremiah
in one rehearsal, and are so fast and good and in love with me that I actually cancelled today's rehearsal! First time I ever felt I could dispense with a rehearsal in Europe. Jennie [Tourel] is greater than ever.

I see Ellen [Adler] a lot & she sends her love. François [Valéry] and Nadia [Boulanger] are coming to Holland for my concerts! It just angers me that this second year I still don't have a debut in Paris – after all the ego-building of these triumphs; to do just a broadcast here is an anticlimax. Well, what to do? Paris operates in terms of press agents, and [Charles] Kiesgen is asleep. The Conservatoire concert didn't work out after all – a matter of finance & intrigue with the Radio. It's a shame, but it would have been too hectic anyway.

I've had to call off the Prague concert too […] a wire from Bruno Z[irato] practically threatened excommunication if I went. So it's off. Another shame.

What's this with your Hebrew? Are you studying? I'm terribly impressed. But you should learn to write script, not print! […]

Now that the book contract is signed, I have qualms. The old question – When?

I guess it's just as well for Shirley to stick around in America. She wouldn't be much happier in Holland, though I probably would. (A propos, Vienna paid me in greenbacks, & I travel about with a bulging wallet of 20s and 50s!)

I did write you from Budapest didn't I? I hope so, but if not – it was a tremendous experience, and they asked me to stay on a month, giving daily concerts – and they wouldn't be able to meet the demand! That's how wild the success was. Especially, of all things, the Bartók!

Now, for Philadelphia, damn them. I hardly know what to plan (I'm not in a planning frame of mind). But I
must
play a concerto. Maybe Mendelssohn
Italian
, Ravel Concerto and Shosty #5. Or Mozart
Linz
first. Or Copland 3rd and Beethoven Concerto. Or (maybe this is best) Mendelssohn,
Jeremiah
, and Beethoven Concerto. Yes, this is best. Try & push it.

I guess that brings [me] up to date. I'll write next week from Holland. Give Shirley all my love, & tell her it happens to all of us, and it had a great deal of joy in it, after all; & these things are always made of joy and pain together.

Love,

L

Dear D,

The sun is out, I'm waiting for horses to be brought, I live like a king, I have screaming audiences and flowers at my concerts, and even a lover. There are a
few other facts: the sea outside my window is a wonder; the Dutch word for cunt is kunt; there is a performer here named Cilli Wang; and I've bought you a sweet hand-painted chess-set in Budapest.

I send all my love to you & Judy.

L

My dear T,

Well, it's over. The big swing around this beautiful messy continent is at an end and I am swollen with success, lush with living, loving and learning.

Germany and Austria were fabulous, filthy, Nazi, exciting. Budapest was grim and gay. Milano was the greatest. Paris a joy, as ever, and Holland a comfort, where I've soaked up milk and lobsters and sun, and been horseback riding every day. I'm happy, and a little bit drunk, to celebrate the end of the tour. I don't lift an arm until July 1st! (I sail the 22nd for New York, arriving the 29th, when you will probably be leaving.)

No sign of Thad anywhere. He missed a thrilling concert – not just musically, but politically. More anon.

More anon also about the Russian regions. It's not so good, to put it mildly.

Maybe we can have a moment before we leave New York. As they say here,
tis te hopen
.

All the best, dear Twig, and if I don't see you, I hope you will love Europe as much as I have. I have a strange lack of nostalgia for America. I could go on here for ever.

Love,

Lenny

Dear A,

A word to say me voici, and Gott sei Dank, and it's all beautiful beyond words.

Marc [Blitzstein] cheered me up immensely the day after you brought me down so about the
Age of A
[
nxiety
] – he went into positive fits of joy. Who knows?

How would you like some of the enclosed for a present? It's just for you, it's terribly blond & Swedish, & it will be in America (Philadelphia!) by December. Mmm. It was lovely.

I've already started working like a dog. Thirty-five concerts in the next two months! Somehow in Israel one finds strength for everything.

My suite & garden are a joy. Real Garden-of-Eden stuff: palms, mimosa, cactus, & what a sea! You must try Israel one day.

How's by the movie?

You old bastard, I love you.

L

Everyone awaits the 3rd Symphony with bated breath. Just to take
you
down a bit,
Billy the Kid
was
not
played here, only the Celebration Dance, alone & only, and that had to be repeated. You old encore composer!

Dear Twig,

I tried hard to call you during my three days in New York last month – between a wonderful Wyoming visit and my flight to Israel. You had gone, of course, that very day. But it's good to have your note, and to know that you are now ensconced in the sheltered halls of old V–a, studying, and, I presume, making love like a beaver.

This is such a beautiful experience that I can hardly write of it. Truly I feel I never want to leave, despite all the tragedy and difficulty. I sit here in this charming city in a blackout, with the fucking Egyptians raising hell to the south, my beloved Jerusalem without water, and in siege. But the concerts go on – dozens of them – never one missed – with huge and cheering audiences – sometimes accompanied by shells and machine guns outside. And Haifa is certainly one of the fabulous beauty-spots on earth. Life is hectic, but pleasant beyond words: the orchestra is the most intelligent and responsive I've known: and I think I've fallen in love.

Add it up: do you blame me for having no nostalgia for the States? This is a most miraculous people with a heroism and devotion I have never before seen. I know: – I visited the front in Jerusalem. I could weep with the inspiration of it. Everyone is young, inspired, beautiful in this new Army, and everyone is truly alive in this new State. So they slander and babble in Paris, but these people will never be downed.

I think of you often and with affection, Twig. I shall be back Dec. 9 or so. But I hear that the Philly Orchestra has cancelled the season! Otherwise – it would be lovely to see you.

All the best,

L

Dear Sergei Alexandrovich,

How to begin? Which of all the glorious facts, faces, actions, ideals, beauties of scenery, nobilities of purpose shall I report? I am simply overcome with this land and its people. I have never so gloried in an army, in simple farmers, in a concert public. I am in perfect health, and very happy – only a little tired from the fantastic schedule we have here: 40 concerts in 60 days, here, in Haifa, in Jerusalem, Rehovoth, and so on. The concerts are a marvelous success, the audiences tremendous and cheering, the greatest being special concerts for soldiers. Never could you imagine so intelligent and cultured and music-loving an army!

And Jerusalem – what shall I say of my beloved Jerusalem, tragic, under constant Arab fire, without water (only a pail a day) – with machine guns outside accompanying our performances of Beethoven symphonies! I have visited the fronts, entered Notre Dame, where we held out a few paces only from Arab–British guns, inspected the strategic heights around the city and the Palmach bases. I have played piano in hospitals for the new wounded of the Negev, and in camps for soldiers and “Kibbutzim” people. I have been decorated with the Jerusalem Defense medal and the Palmach insignia. I have almost grown to be part of all these wonderful people and history-making days. Believe me, it will end well: there is too much faith, spirit, and will to be otherwise.

While in Jerusalem I took a side-trip to a formerly Arab village called Ain-Karem where the captain of the Commandos turned out to be named Moshe Koussevitzky! He tells me he is your nephew, son of your brother, and is a charming, warm person, doing a great and heroic piece of work. I photographed him, and am sending you a print enclosed. I hope this makes you very happy.

I am holding auditions for young conductors next week (I have reason to believe there are real talents here). Our good friend Mrs. Frank Cohen advises me that she wishes to donate a scholarship for an Israeli conducting student at Tanglewood next summer. Would you be willing to accept one, as an active pupil if possible, if we find a very talented one? Do please let me know as soon as you can, so that I can make arrangements while I am still here.
¹²⁴

I hope the season goes as wonderfully as always – though I am sure this one will surpass all top standards set before. We all love you and pray for you here,
and all your dear friends send you warmest wishes, including the President Weizmann, our beloved MacDonald [Ambassador James McDonald] (who is doing a fine job), and the members of the orchestra, who wait only for your visit one day.

All my love to you and Olga.

Leonard

I feel that I shall spend more and more time here each year. It makes running around the cities of America seem so unimportant – as if I am not really needed there, while I am really needed here!

By the way, I met Moshe Koussevitzky just next to the spring of John the Baptist!