I decided to end the compilation with RK's letter to me because it was one of the last letters he wrote to family that had musical content. Although he indicated in his letter that he was not going to leave his house anytime soon, he later made arrangements to attend a concert of the Boston Symphony with me at Symphony Hall in April 1984. I don't believe he had been in Symphony Hall since he had played there in the 1930s and 1940s, and he was looking forward to being in the hall again and hearing the Boston Symphony. However, he died suddenly in mid-April before he could make this trip.

Early February 1984

Dear Meredith,

It was good to hear from you. I am progressing slowly, having learned to walk without a cane, but I still don't go out except to see doctors. You can't possibly imagine the number of pills I am obliged to take in the course of a day. Their combined effect is devastating. I hope soon some of them can be reduced.

I heard the Masur concert with the BSO and, like you, found the Psyche a bore. What a second-rate composer: I am allergic to Respighi but found La Valse an interesting performance. Obviously, the orchestra must like Masur, to judge by the way they follow him.

The Brahms concerto in Concord sounds very ambitious. Sherman has a prodigious technique, at least to judge from records. Have you heard of a violinist named Salvatore Accardo? I heard his concerto with three different orchestras and am astonished that he isn't better known. I found in him all I would wish. Yesterday I heard a magnificent twenty-six-year-old pianist named Yefim Bronfman. He has complete command of the piano and is obviously a superb musician.

The Bach book is finished as far as the text is concerned and about to be set up for galley proof. It will probably come out at the end of this year.

There seems little chance of my getting to Boston in the near future but I hope we will be able to see you down here for a weekend.

Love,

Ralph