February 1, 1954

Mr. Dragoslav Andric
Tákovska 22
Beograd, Yugoslavia

Dear Mr. Andric:

On Wednesday, February 17, at 20.15-21.45 P.M. (8:15 to 9:45 P.M.) Radio Vara, Hilversum, Holland, will broadcast over wave length 402 meters, my opera, THE BARRIERS, libretto by Langston Hughes, and score by Jan Meyerowitz, with leading Dutch opera stars, actors, and a full symphony orchestra, a full length performance of this work for the first time in Europe. I hope you will be able to listen to it. Please let me know if you hear it or not, and what you think of it.

It was certainly nice to have your good long letter, the clippings, and the magazines. Thanks so much! And for all your news about our anthology. I'm very glad it was so well received. And I great greatly appreciate your translating some of the comments for me, as well as about "The Ways of White Folks", which book I did receive some time ago, from the publishers...... Kurt Weill, who did the music for "Lost In The Stars" was my composer of "Street Scene" for which I did the lyrics. Do you think some theatre in Yugoslavia might like to produce "Street Scene"? If so, I could send you a libretto, score, and an Long Playing record of the music. Perhaps you could translate this Kurt Weill musical, also, book by Elmer Rice, made from a famous American play of his. It is to be done in Germany soon. And is playing here this month in Cincinnati. It has some beautiful music....Well, I am off now for a lecture trip to Virginia early in the morning, so I will close, hoping to hear from you again soon, and sending you all my good wishes,

August 29, 1955

Dear Mr. Andrie:

I cannot tell you how surprised and pleased I was to receive such a
wonderful box of gifts from you. The rugs are very beautiful and
they add a great deal of color to the floor of my studio. Everyone
admires the exquisitely hand-tooled box and it was certainly good
of you to put a nameplate on it as a gift from you to me. I shall
treasure all of these things you have sent me and I appreciate them
very much indeed. I also want to thank you for the charming little
booklet, THE SUNNY ADRIATIC, which came sometime before. If the
beverages come via your friend, I hope that I will meet him when he
comes to the United States but do not worry about sending these if
it is too difficult.

I am glad that you enjoyed my Jazz Book, and certainly if I hear of
any good jazz band coming to Europe I shall advise you of it.

I was most interested in the news you gave me about PORGY AND BESS
and the FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. I know some of the people with both
groups. As you probably know I worked with Kurt Weill in the creation
of STREET SCENE, the music which he wrote just before LOST IN THE STARS.
If you think that the BELGRADE DRAMA THEATRE might be interested in
STREET SCENE for production there, I would be happy to send you a
libretto, with a long-playing record of the music. It is very "American",
all set in a single setting in front of a tenement house. It was per-
formed here on Broadway several years ago, and is now often done by
amateur and college groups throughout the country.

Please forgive me for being so long in answering your letter but I
have been bogged down with the completion of my autobiography (the
second volume) which is now over 500 pages, and have just finished
two other books: FAMOUS NEGRO MUSIC MAKERS and a beautiful photographic
story of Harlem for which I wrote the text, THE SWEET FLY PAPER OF LIFE.
These are due for fall publication.

Arna Bontemps of Fisk University was here a few weeks ago and said he
had heard from you and thought there was some possibility of your
coming to America. I hope so because it would be a pleasure to know
you. But until then, meanwhile, I repeat my gratitude to you for the
beautiful gifts and I send you all my good wishes, as ever,

Mr. Dragoslav Andric
Takovska 22
Belgrade, Yugoslavia

July 6, 1963

Dear Mr. Dragoslav Andric,

Mr. Hughes is travelling in Europe this summer and moving about almost continuously, so no mail is being forwarded to him. Your communication will be held here pending his return.

I know that he will delighted to find your letter here upon his return and to know that you enjoyed his collection of short stories.