Krenek, Ernst. (1900–1991)
Autograph Letter
Autograph letter from the Austrian-born composer whose music was banned by the Nazis to the Hungarian conductor Paul Czonka, asking for details of their upcoming opera tour of the United States and mentioning colleagues Otto Klemperer, Max Sturzenegger and Artur Schnabel. 2 pp. Rome, May 21, 1937. On letterhead of the Albergo Atlantico e Ligurio, Roma. Krenek begins with a humorous note on Rossini's operatic farce Il Signor Bruschino, which he considers may have been "composed with the left hand alone, if not rather with the left foot..." He goes on to give details of his travel plans in Italy and Switzerland, before asking urgently for more information on the coming itinerary: "Naturally I wish to speak with Otto [Klemperer] and [Max] Sturzenegger while I'm there, but regarding the latter could you please give me specific information [...] so that I don't make any faux pas. [...] Also, please could you inform me as soon as possible first about the exact (or somewhat exact) itinerary in the USA [...] so that I can discuss the locations with [Artur] Schnabel." Full translation below. Folding creases; overall in very fine condition. 6.5 x 8.5 inches (16.7 x 22.5 cm).Translated from the German, in full:
Dear Mr. Czonka,
Regarding Rossini, I actually made a mistake: I thought, I don't know why, that you wanted to perform "Bruschino." I don't know anything about the other piece, and I will gladly assume that it is better - it ought to be really considerably better, though! "Bruschino" gave me at best the impression of being composed with the left hand alone, if not rather with the left foot...
I am here until midday on the 27th, on the evening of that day in Florence ("The Marriage of Figaro"), staying at the Hotel Corona d'Italia, Via Nazionale. On the morning of the 28th I am occupied there; at midday I go to Milan, where I have an invitation in the evening. On the 29th still in Milan; we will probably go to Tremezzo at midday, and we plan to be in Zurich on the evening of Saturday the 30th, at the Hotel St. Gotthard, Banhofstrasse. We are staying there until June 3rd.
Naturally I wish to speak with Otto and Sturzenegger while I'm there, but regarding the latter could you please give me specific information about what you have arranged with him, so that I don't make any faux pas.
Also, please could you inform me as soon as possible first about the exact (or somewhat exact) itinerary in the USA (could I have that by the 28th, so that I can discuss the locations with Schnabel, whom I will see at the end of the month?!), and then about the planned summer quarter!
It would be very nice to see you somewhere here - I hope it works out!
Best wishes,
Ernst Krenek
Krenek took his first trip to the USA in 1937, as part of a tour arranged by the Hungarian conductor and opera director Paul Czonka and the American impresario Sol Hurok. The tour, with the Salzburg Opera Guild, featured a version of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea, for which Krenek had prepared the music, making cuts and orchestrations, and translated the libretto. Although Max Sturzenegger had already been hired to conduct, Hurok insisted that Krenek come along. The company arrived in New York on October 17, 1937; Krenek would stay until March of the following year. While there, he wrote several shrewd and amusing essays on American culture and customs, which were published in the Wiener Zeitung. He described being in Los Angeles, moving among figures such as Schönberg, Klemperer, and Kurt Weill, as living "in Paradise." In 1938, fleeing the Nazi regime, Krenek moved permanently to the United States, where he taught music at various universities, the first being Vassar College. He became an American citizen in 1945. (See: John Lincoln Stewart, Ernst Krenek: The Man and His Music (University of California Press, 1991), pp. 205-210). (14737)
Autograph Letter Classical Music