The letter chosen for the Spring, 2002 issue of Gallery Notes is from 1940. A good portion is reprinted here with the remainder in the latest issue of Gallery Notes, a publication for members of the Sandzén Gallery. The excerpts chosen contain Alfrida Sandzén's thoughts about significant events to daughter Margaret. She mentions among other topics The Messiah Festival and a trip to McPherson with friends. The original text has been edited slightly for ease of reading.

Tuesday Evening, 26 March, 1940

Dearest Darling Margaret :
    I had planned to write you a long letter this evening but it is already late. This is really one day of relaxation after the Messiah week. Yesterday, Monday, there were many callers and then to be really sensible we went to McPherson to see "Gone with the Wind" - a performance that lasted four hours from 8 to 12. Hagbard , Taut [Aunt] Minna and Ingrid [Brase] went with us. They certainly were happy to go with us. This morning I was a little worried that it wasn't so sensible to keep Hagbard [conductor of the Messiah Chorus] up so late after Easter Sunday - so I telephoned. I got the most cheerful response from Tant [Aunt] Minna that they were "feeling fine" and had enjoyed it so much. That after a "busy week" Hagbard enjoyed so much to relax - but I was afraid a 4 hours relaxative [sic] might be too good a thing. Well my fears were evidently ungrounded. I should have loved to have been undisturbed until 7 o'clock, at least, after going to bed at 1 a.m. but Rags [the family dog] had to take his morning tour at 6 - as I had to get up and let him out. He generally returns at breakfast time after he had made his survey at north.

    [. . .] There was only admiration for you from the New York soloists, Ellen Repp, Jenks & Stewart. I think they all are very fine. Ellen Repp is a splendid person. I like Jenks too. He may appear a little "smarty" maybe, but he knows his stuff - and takes his singing very seriously. They all did very well in the concerts. Uncle Hagbard was very much pleased, and so was critical Oscar [Oscar Thorsen] who just said today at noon - the concerts were fine all through the week. They all seem to think the chorus is "tops" - none better. . . .

Events leading up to this point as well as the audience reaction are included in fuller excerpts of the letter, found in the Winter 2002 Gallery Notes, distributed to all Gallery members.

Birger Sandzén in his studio circa 1930, Gallery Archives photograph.