Hotel de la Ville

Trieste

27/1/27

Illustre Signor Commendatore Clausetti

Milano

Dear Mr Clausetti

I am writing to ask you to be so kind as to send me a vocal score of Pizetti’s [sic] opera “Debora” & also one of Zandonai’s “Kavalieri di Ekebu” [sic]. I want to take these two works with me to Russia where I shall be going middle of February.

When I was conducting at the operas of Moscow & Petrograd last April & May, the Director asked me to recommend him one or two new operas for performance in Russia & I told him of “Debora” & of the “Kavalieri” [sic] both of which I think would have a great success with the Russian public. If therefore you would kindly send me these two vocal scores to Trieste Hotel de la Ville, I will take them with me to Moscow & play them to the Director. The performances would of course be for the following year & I would conduct them myself. Another opera that I should be interested to see is Zandonai’s “Conchita” which I do not know. Perhaps you would send me that too & I will take it also. It is better to have several for choice. I leave Trieste on February 11^th & would be obliged if you would send me the music as soon as possible. Only the vocal score (partition pour voix et pianoforte) is necessary.

I take this opportunity of making a formal complaint to you about the music of “Walkiria” which your librarian sent to Trieste. It was a disgrace to your firm to send such music. The orchestral parts to begin with belonged to different editions & had different numbers (ziffres), some parts had no numbers at all. It was impossible to rehearse & I spent two days putting in numbers & corrections with the help of six men! It was really too bad.

Trusting to receive the music for Russia soon & with kind regards

I remain

Yours sincerely

Albert Coates

Since you have probably not dealt with Russia lately, I would wish to tell you that they would pay your charges either in lires or in stirling or any other foreign currency of your choice. Also they deal perfectly honestly in these matters.