Bernard Herrmann

Lucky opera-goers in Portland, Oregon, to have the opportunity of attending the world première, in November, of Bernard Herrmann's Wutliering I-/eights (C. B. Johnson's letter in the July issue, page 176). The opera's life on the Unicorn label (UNB400, 3/67) was indeed a short one, and I fear the possibility of a British opera company mounting a production, in spite of the subject, can only be a pipe-dream. Also in the Unicorn archives, I believe, is a recording of the composer's television opera, A Christmas Carol, and while I have a prefix for it (RHS850), I have never been able to obtain a copy of it. Shop assistants—of both sexes—looking blank.

Was it ever released? Isn't it about time it was? [The opera was not released—Ed.]

While grateful to this company for releasing some other fine recordings, the Clarinet Quintet, the String Quartet, the Symphony, etc., it would be nice if someone would present us with, say, the Sinfonietta for Strings, the Violin Concerto, and (Corresponden(e continued on page 701)