Dear Fergie,

As you will be in London on the 7th, perhaps you will be able to use this ticket. If not, I don't want it back: you could leave after the Scho· nberg. ‘Sea Drift’ sounded beautiful in performance, but I don't for a moment think it's the best Delius. Apart from ‘The Cuckoo’ there is the ‘Song of the High Hills', as well as at least two orchestral works - ‘Brigg Fair’ and ‘In a Summer Garden’ - which I love better and are consistently beautiful. Mrs RO showed me Mary Webb's poems. She, like you, very enthusiastic about them - but I only just glanced over them and so probably got quite a wrong idea when I thought them a bit wishy-washy. I shall certainly get them.

I hope to go to Gloucester for a few days, but expect to get back to London fairly soon, as I must get my mouth X-rayed. Certainly I shall be back in time for the B.B.C. Concert, and if you get a ticket you might get one for me at the same time (a 3/- upstairs). G.F.

[Dear Dave]

Herewith ticket for Friday. Do let me know when you'll be up, and we will arrange a ‘soire’ e musicale'. The B.N.O.C. [British National Opera Co.] will be at Golder's Green from the 28th January, when I expect they will do ‘Falstaff’ [Verdi]. I will get notices and tell you all about it, and we can arrange when you want to go. I can't go to the Phil, alas. I'm sorry for V.W. that he doesn't like the Grand Fantasia. H.F.

I can now get through the Bartok with some right notes.

[Dear Dave]

May I come to tea on Friday before the B.B.C. Concert? I shall come straight on from College and will be with you around 4.30. Love to go to the C.M.C. [Contemporary Music Centre]. You come here for dinner first - about 6 or so. (That's Wednesday.) Salaams. H.F.

Second thoughts: it would be much simpler if you came here on Friday at 4.15, and stayed on to dinner. Why not then come and see ‘The Mock Emperor'? [Pirandello's ‘Enrico Quarto', with Ernest Milton, for which H.F. was playing in the theatre band.]