I hope you will excuse my forwardness in writing when we are only just acquainted, but I thought perhaps this would interest you. I had the delightful fortune to attend a concert performance recently in London featuring Oswald Schmidt, a cellist — I believe he is of some small renown, though I was not familiar with him previously. It was a capital performance, and in the reception afterwards there was discussion about the Berlin Philharmonic — he is a member, I understand, and only taking a brief leave from the orchestra for this solo tour. There was some intimation of the Berlin Philharmonic debuting some new pieces during their upcoming season that were particularly innovative — perhaps even something new from Brahms, though he was said to have retired.

I doubt very much that my mother would encourage portkeys to Berlin for the sake of being the first to hear new sonatas (that may or may not, in fact, exist), so I thought it best to pass the word along to someone who might take advantage of the opportunity. As you are the only person in my acquaintance who has ever been to Germany, that meant passing it along to you. (You are in Germany, by now? I remember you said you were going, and I did not notice you in attendance at either the Midsummer Ball or the Dashwood debut last month, and both seemed to have nearly the whole of society in attendance, so I assume you have made good on these plans).

Do let me know if you have a chance to hear any new music!

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