Typescript letter, in response to Bing's letter dated 6th March, regarding his involvement in producing the stage designs for "Adriana Lecouvreur". Beaton writes that he wanted a short break after having worked on "Turandot", but having done some preliminary work and having developed a greater appreciation of the music through conversations with his neighbour, the music critic, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, he is eager to progress further with "Adriana Lecouvreur". He would, however, prefer to set the opera in the Edwardian period, rather than the eighteenth century, which Beaton feels has been "over-done". He also proposes a meeting with Nathaniel Merrill [stage director for the Met between 1956 and 1985], for further discussions before he becomes engaged in other summer activities.