Item AB/825 - Autograph letter signed from Nina Grieg to Anna Brodsky

Nina writes of the happy evening hours, the loveliest time of the whole day, when they read alone or aloud and then always go to bed too late since they never want to bring the evening to an end. Edvard is reading "Briefwechsel zwischen Joh. Brahms und Heinrich und Elisabet von Herzogenberg" [Correspondence between Johannes Brahms and Heinrich and Elisabet von Herzogenberg], from which he now and again reads extracts. Nina recalls the first meeting with the Herzogenbergs [who were the Brodskys' neighbours for part of their time in Leipzig] in the foyer of the old Gewandhaus; they were facing a bright future together but how he suffered before death [Herzogenberg died after a long illness in 1900]. Heinrich von Herzogenberg was indeed a composer but Lisel [Elisabeth] was very gifted. Nina felt overawed in her presence just as she had felt when she ought to have been sitting between Brahms and Tchaikovsky chez the Brodskys. Elisabeth knew and understood eveything. Anna has told Nina that her sister does not have the means to live comfortably and wonders if Olga has lost her money. The Halvorsens have been having problems: little Rolf has come out of hospital after six or seven weeks. If the other two children remain healthy, they should have a happy Christmas. Dated 14 Dec 1906.