Lot Essay
Interviewed by biographer Barry Paris, conductor André Previn reminisced over working with Audrey Hepburn She was just so beautiful that you couldn't bear it... I was hopelessly in love with her. Based on the dated acetates in the previous lot, this letter dates to mid-way through Audrey's vocal recordings for Eliza on My Fair Lady. Audrey, Previn recalls saying, when I turn to cue you in, you look like you’ve been caught in a deer snare. Could you keep the terror out of your eyes? You look like a fawn that’s about to get shot. In response, Audrey presented him with a silver ceremonial conductor's baton engraved To André, Love from a Fawn. Previn's letter thanks her for the baton and looks forward to their upcoming recordings - the very next day they would record Loverly, with Marni Nixon taking over vocals towards the end. Despite the dubbing fiasco that was currently playing out on set (see footnote to previous lot), Hepburn obviously remained on good terms with Previn, who seemingly tried his hardest to keep a hint of Audrey in the final cut.