At the beginning of his career, Vinicius de Moraes takes on his first diplomatic post in Los Angeles.
- Unpublished handwritten letter from Vinicius de Moraes to Raul Bopp, his colleague both at Itamaraty and as a writer.
- Two pages.
- In Portuguese.
- Los Angeles, July 19, 1946.
- 18.3 cm x 26.6 cm.
- Excellent condition.
- Unique piece.
Playwright, journalist, singer, composer, diplomat and poet, Vinicius de Moraes was what we would call today a complete artist, performing masterfully in each of his roles. One of those few people born every few generations capable of mastering different forms of expression with excellence, Vinicius left his mark on the history of Brazilian art, and left his mark on the history of world art. The great composer was, for example, responsible for writing the lyrics to “The Girl from Ipanema”, the most internationally renowned Brazilian song.
But who was Vinícius de Moraes (1913 - 1980)? Born in Rio de Janeiro, as a child, the young artist gave signs of what his profession would be, putting on plays at the school where he studied. Even so, the young Vinícius studied Law and graduated as a jurist, a title that allowed him to enter the world of Diplomacy.
However, it was in literature that he found his true passion. Vinícius de Moraes spoke of love and sensuality in his works, dedicated to the various women he had relationships with throughout his life, and his songs and sonnets about his passions are now part of the Brazilian imagination. After all, who didn't memorize at least one of Vinícius' poems in school?
Still, we know that a significant part of the poet's life was dedicated to representing Brazil in various countries. What few people know is that the figure of Vinícius de Moraes the diplomat was also born from female hands. It was his first wife, Tati de Moraes, who encouraged him to take the exam for the diplomatic career at Itamaraty, which he passed in 1943, taking on the position of vice-consul of Brazil in the United States, in the city of Los Angeles, in 1946.
Sparks of the artist's intimate life at that time are revealed in this letter he wrote that same year. In his own words, Vinícius tells about the path he took to reach his first diplomatic post in California. Interestingly, in the letter, Vinícius also talks about Tati; he wants to take her to Los Angeles with the children as soon as possible, because, according to him, she has been doing some stupid things that have driven the couple apart.
Vinícius was known throughout his life for having affairs with countless women. It is interesting, however, to see that these episodes impacted his daily life, after all, the poet did not live by words alone. Coincidence or not, it was for his first wife, Tati Martins, that Vinícius de Moraes wrote, back in 1946, the famous “Sonnet of Fidelity”, calling for a love that is “infinite while it lasts”.
Vinícius de Moraes was a man of letters, revealing his feelings and loves through them, with the skill of a true poet's pen. But even though we know so much about his words, it is a delight to access his private sphere, those words written without the technical rigor of rhyme that reveal an ordinary man, who traveled, visited cities, fell ill, recovered, moved, lived. Finally, the lives of masters are not limited to their work, and in the triviality of everyday life, we see that we share something with them, our existence, and the need to live it in all its fleetingness.
This letter is an intimate, unique and unpublished testimony about the youth of the famous Brazilian poet and musician, when he was a diplomat in the United States.
