Autograph Letter - " To me it is unthinkable that any of the countries I have visited could ever consider to wage another major war"

A lengthy and interesting autograph letter from the Austrian-born American conductor, known for his tenures with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, to Cleveland Orchestra harpist Alice Chalifoux. August 27, [1946]. Writing from Amsterdam where, after appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and a summer European tour, he has declined to take over leadership of the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, he reports on Dutch musicians and the general state of Europe a year after the end of World War II. "To me it is unthinkable that any of the countries I have visited could ever consider to wage another major war. The peoples are so tired and worn out, their plight with food and clothing so terrible, the black market so incredible that it would be complete suicide to start a war. I just don't think there is that much foolishness around." Full text below. 5 pp. Folding creases, some light edge creases and toning; overall in fine condition. 8.5 x 5.75 inches (21.8 x 14.7 cm).

Text, in full:
"Dear Alice: The whorehouse duly forwarded your letter which was very much enjoyed and most gratefully received. It was great fun to read and a lively account of all the little things, and also to get such a detailed report on V.V. — To-night is my 24th concert since I left New York on June 17 and I shall be glad to get back by the end of the week. To-day I had the offer to become the chief conductor and musical director of the dutch Radio orchestra here. I thanked and said that I was not interested in permanent positions at the moment. I find both dutch orchestras which I have conducted (Hague and Radio Hilversum) full of extraordinary material, but obviously without musical leadership. The woodwinds especially play like the angels and in the Hague they have a quartett of horns which I can only describe as 4 Jimmies. The first Horn player, a boy of 26 played last year in a concertt the Horn Concerto by Strauss and in the second half the Emperor Concerto by Beethoven as Piano soloist. But since you ask about other things, I don't want this to become a treatise on dutch instrumentalists.
The newspapers here in France and Britain don't have much newsprint and cannot therefore indulge in as much catastrophic predictions as american journalists. To me it is unthinkable that any of the countries I have visited could ever consider to wage another major war. The peoples are so tired and worn out, their plight with food and clothing so terrible, the black market so incredible that it would be complete suicide to start a war. I just don't think there is that much foolishness around. The States are the only country which has won the war and now the strong stand is designed to establish a "firm peace." All the other countries have lost the war no matter on what side they were when official hostilities ended. Britain has lost and naturally all the countries of the continent have lost too. — Here in Hlland I am paying for one pack of American cigarettes the equivalent of 3 dollars on the black market. Can you imagine how the poor live hereabouts? I ate in Paris better than ever, even for Parisian standards, for approx. 700 francs a luncheon (120 francs to the dollar.) Most people [go] around in their only suit and that looks like hell. That goes for England as well. — There is no question that there are small groups which think about promoting war on Russia now; such things always have chances of success but with what human material such a war is to be fought, I surely don't know. Not with the populations of Europe—that much I know. The politically well-informed in Britain and here consider Roosevelt's death and Truman's inability the two main factors in the present dark outlook. And whatever your opinions about FDR may be or have been, am quite sure that Russia dares so much bluffing only because they know how weak Truman is and (what we don't hear at home) how very few brains the English government has. Anyhow, you said it when you mentioned that very few of any species would be left after another war. That fear is more security than all the conferences. — I have read the European edition of Tribune almost daily and I have a pretty good idea with what sort of tonic the American public are fed. — However, nothing is impossible in this mad world at this crazy moment in our history.
The story with the Borscht cable is even funnier when I tell you that I myself showed Bernstein the message and he laughed very much. I have never heard if my letter in reply was received; it mentioned the exact location of the bacilli and other intimate things of unprintable nature. — I have certainly had a most interesting summer though a bit long to be away from home; not always what is commonly known as enjoyable, because one sees and hears too much of the past horrors, deprivations, and similar gruelling tales; but an eye- and brain-opener of the first order.
My very best to you, Jack and little Alice, not to forget the venerable Mrs. Leith and sweet Caroline.
Yours as ever, Erich L."

From the collection of Alice Chalifoux, principal harpist with the Cleveland Orchestra from 1931 to 1974 and, for many years, its only female member. Chalifoux played under the first five music directors of the Cleveland Orchestra: Nikolai Sokoloff, Artur Rodzinski, Erich Leinsdorf, George Szell and Lorin Maazel. She studied with Carlos Salzedo and went on to train a further generation of harpists at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin College, Baldwin-Wallace College and the Salzedo Harp Colony. Described as "diminutive, salty-tongued and beloved," she was especially known for her sharp wit.  (15187)

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Autograph Letter

Classical Music

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