Andrea,

 

I have a poor quality video of the film you mention, Una jena in cassaforte. I brought a copy of this video to Dmitri, whom I had met briefly on three occasions, in 2004. He had apparently been trying to find such a copy for several years. We watched the film together, with Dmitri providing translation and commentary. He told me that he had rented a theater in Vevey to watch the film with his mother, James Mason, and Mason's companion Vivian di Crespi. Maybe his father was there too, but I don't remember. Great memory of a great visit. The night before my departure we watched an inspired performance of Die Walkure, but I couldn't finish the final act despite Dmitri's protestations. I had to pack at my hotel and return to Geneva for my plane flight home. I said we'd finish the opera next time I came. For numerous family reasons I never did come back, however; now it's too late and I couldn't be more devastated. He was the most gracious and solicitous host I'd ever known, so generous with his time and attention to a stranger like me, and I would give so much to see him and hear his voice again.

 

Terry Myers

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrea Pitzer <andrea.pitzer@GMAIL.COM>
To: NABOKV-L <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Sent: Thu, Feb 23, 2012 3:36 pm
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Dmitri