Ernst von Dohnányi: A Song of Life

Seven: 1946-1948

At the London airport, the official of the Home Office examined Dohn ányi’s disorganized papers and looked up at him with interest. “Are you the famous musician?” he asked. Dohnányi nodded. “You are welcome in England, sir,” the official said with a benevolent smile. These words warmed my heart. I was even more touched by Mr. and Mrs. Tillett, who met us at Victoria Station and then treated us to a delicious supper. Dohnányi talked calmly and composedly with them, while watching me as I expressed my obvious delight upon being served a cake covered with real chocolate. Although second helpings in restaurants were prohibited in England, the waiter brought us another plateful, which he said was by request of the other diners. Later that night, the Maestro and I continued our journey to Edinburgh. At the station, cocoa was served with real milk, and without coupons. England seemed like Paradise. The concert in Edinburgh took place on 25 October 1946. The hall was packed, but this was not the audience of ladies wearing deep-cut evening dresses and gentlemen in immaculate tuxedoes that Dohnányi had seen on his earlier visits to Britain. The people now wore simple, everyday clothing . Some women even had shopping bags at their feet. I realized that in spite of the luxurious meals served at restaurants, conditions were still difficult here. When the conductor, Walter Susskind, appeared on the stage, everyone stood for “God Save the King.” It was wonderful to be in a country where they had such a strong national feeling, where an anthem was respected, and where some things were still considered sacred. When Dohn ányi appeared on the stage, the crowd received him with warm enthusiasm . Although many of them had heard that he had been labeled a war criminal, this did not seem to affect their respect or appreciation when they listened to the Variationen über ein Kinderlied. On the next day, Dohn ányi went to Glasgow, where he played the Variationen in St. Andrew’s Hall with Susskind conducting. On 27 October, Dohnányi played Mozart’s SEVEN 1946–1948  Coronation Concerto, K. 537, in Green’s Playhouse. With all these performances , life was slipping past like a dream. This was a refreshing change from the constant procrastination and stagnation of Austria. In London, Dohnányi and his friends worked hard to arrange for my children and Fräulein Hermine to come to England. Although this proved to be practically impossible, we hoped that after we returned to Austria we would be allowed to bring them with us and settle in England when we returned for the next season. One day, Dohnányi took me to pay a visit to his old friend Caroline Geisler-Schubert. Since the death of Mrs. Oliverson , “Lintschi” had lived alone with her loyal elderly housekeeper. Although she was almost ninety, Lintschi’s eyes brightened up radiantly when she welcomed Dohnányi. They chatted about their old friends, most of whom had passed away. Dohnányi also met Bernard de Nevers, who was the head of the publishing firm of Alfred Lengnick and Company, which represented Dohnányi’s German publisher, Simrock. Lengnick was interested in Dohnányi’s new works, and de Nevers made a contract with Dohnányi to publish his Sextet, op. 37, the Suite en valse, op. 39, which Dohnányi had arranged for two pianos (op. 39a), his Second Symphony, op. 40, and the Six Pieces, op. 41, which Dohnányi had performed on a BBC program. I would have liked to have extended our stay in this marvelous country, but Dohnányi was booked for concerts in Vienna and had to return. “There can be nothing more important than my concert obligations,” he responded to my constant pleadings and arguments to stay longer. “Once an artist has accepted an engagement, he has to stick to it and cannot give it up even for a more favorable offer. It has very often happened that after I undertook to play somewhere, I got much more attractive offers. I always refused them, for I consider it to be a matter of honor to carry out my obligations.” On our way back to Austria, the Maestro and I spent two days in Switzerland meeting friends. There were many wonderful shops filled with all kinds of alluring merchandise, but we had no money to purchase anything . Dohnányi was still wearing the old, worn suit and mended shirts that...