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OJ 10/3, [165] - Handwritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated April 2, 1932
Soeben bekomme ich von sicherer Seite die vertrauliche Nachricht, daß Hoboken – der Donnerstag zurückkommen dürfte – das Wiener Haus nicht bauen und in sein leeres Münchener Haus übersiedeln will. Trotz des beharrlichen Leumunds scheint ihn auch ein günstiger Steuersatz dorthin zu lockern Hauptursache ist wohl die wirkliche oder eingebildete Verarmung: zwei Frauen standesgemäß zu erhalten; vielleicht auch die Affaire Deterding 2 (Shell-Krach in Holland). Es ist natürlich kein letztes Wort. Die neue Frau, die für Bayern aber nicht für München ist, soll nichts davon wissen, weil er selbst noch unsicher ist. Ich bereite Sie vor, damit Sie Ihren guten Einfluß geltend machen. – Was mit mir geschieht, ist eine zweite Frage: läßt Hoboken die Bibliothek hier oder ordiniere ich in München? NB. Das Monstrekonzert wird von Strauß’ Stiefenkel, also ohne mich arrangiert. 3 © Transcription William Drabkin, 2023 |
⇧ PROF. OTTO ERICH DEUTSCH Tel. R 45–6–72 VIENNA II Böcklinstraße 26 ⇧ April 2, 1932 Dear revered friend, 1 I have just had, from a reliable source, the confidential news that Hoboken – who is supposed to return on Thursday – is not going to build the Viennese house and is planning to move into his empty house in Munich. In spite of the reputation that dogs him there, the principal reason, along with a favorable rate of taxation, is his real or imagined impoverishment: the maintenance of two women in accordance with their social standing, and perhaps also the Deterding 2 Affair (the collapse of Shell in Holland). We have, naturally, not heard the last word. His new wife, who likes Bavaria (though not Munich), is not supposed to know anything about this, as he himself is still unsure. I am preparing you, so that you may use your good influence. – What happens to me is a second question: will Hoboken leave his library here, or will I be holding surgery hours in Munich? NB. The monster concert will be organized by Strauss’s step-grandson, that is, without me. 3 © Translation William Drabkin, 2023 |
Soeben bekomme ich von sicherer Seite die vertrauliche Nachricht, daß Hoboken – der Donnerstag zurückkommen dürfte – das Wiener Haus nicht bauen und in sein leeres Münchener Haus übersiedeln will. Trotz des beharrlichen Leumunds scheint ihn auch ein günstiger Steuersatz dorthin zu lockern Hauptursache ist wohl die wirkliche oder eingebildete Verarmung: zwei Frauen standesgemäß zu erhalten; vielleicht auch die Affaire Deterding 2 (Shell-Krach in Holland). Es ist natürlich kein letztes Wort. Die neue Frau, die für Bayern aber nicht für München ist, soll nichts davon wissen, weil er selbst noch unsicher ist. Ich bereite Sie vor, damit Sie Ihren guten Einfluß geltend machen. – Was mit mir geschieht, ist eine zweite Frage: läßt Hoboken die Bibliothek hier oder ordiniere ich in München? NB. Das Monstrekonzert wird von Strauß’ Stiefenkel, also ohne mich arrangiert. 3 © Transcription William Drabkin, 2023 |
⇧ PROF. OTTO ERICH DEUTSCH Tel. R 45–6–72 VIENNA II Böcklinstraße 26 ⇧ April 2, 1932 Dear revered friend, 1 I have just had, from a reliable source, the confidential news that Hoboken – who is supposed to return on Thursday – is not going to build the Viennese house and is planning to move into his empty house in Munich. In spite of the reputation that dogs him there, the principal reason, along with a favorable rate of taxation, is his real or imagined impoverishment: the maintenance of two women in accordance with their social standing, and perhaps also the Deterding 2 Affair (the collapse of Shell in Holland). We have, naturally, not heard the last word. His new wife, who likes Bavaria (though not Munich), is not supposed to know anything about this, as he himself is still unsure. I am preparing you, so that you may use your good influence. – What happens to me is a second question: will Hoboken leave his library here, or will I be holding surgery hours in Munich? NB. The monster concert will be organized by Strauss’s step-grandson, that is, without me. 3 © Translation William Drabkin, 2023 |
Footnotes1 Receipt of this letter is not recorded in Schenker’s diary. 2 Henri Deterding (1866–1939), Dutch businessman, from 1900 the managing director of Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell Oil) and known as “The Napoleon of Oil.” The “affair” may have been Deterding’s admiration of Hitler and the German National Socialists, which ultimately led to his resigning his directorship in 1936. 3 At the end of the month, however, Deutsch was asked for his advice on the programming of this concert. See his letter of April 29 (OJ 10/3, [167]). |
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Digital version created: 2023-08-03 |