It would really be the best for me if Kahnt or Schuberth would
save me the trouble of making further copies by publishing the
"Leonore". But I should not wish in any way to incommode the
publisher, and certainly not to offer anything without knowing
that it would be welcome. Under present circumstances a very
pronounced reserve has become my rule. My business is simply to
continue working unremittingly, and quietly to await the rest.
Accordingly I submit myself without difficulty to your experience
as editor in regard to my Munich letter [To Wilkoszewski] -
although I could maintain good grounds for publishing it.
Certainly it is always the gentlemanly thing entirely to ignore
certain things and people. You may therefore be quite right in
putting aside all other considerations; and as I am convinced of
your most sincere friendship I willingly leave you to decide
whether my coming forward in such matters is of use or not. In
case you had thought it advisable for my letter to be printed in
the "Neue Zeitschrift" (which I left to your judgment), it would
have had of necessity to be printed without the slightest
alteration, because I have purposely written it thus clearly to
Herr W., and any alteration in it might be taken as cowardice
(which is far from me). But probably it is better to abandon the
matter for a while, and to be somewhat more severe on another
occasion. The pack of ragamuffins has richly deserved to be
treated as ragamuffins!
This evening is Wagner's first concert in Paris. I expect little
good to him from it, and consider such a step on Wagner's part as
a mistake. In consequence of this opinion our correspondence is
for the time suspended. More about this viva voce - as well as
about "Tristan and Isolde." A performance of the Opera was
desired - that is to say, commanded for the 8th April (the
birthday of the Grand Duchess). But Frau von Milde cannot
undertake the chief part - and on that account the parts and score
sent to us from Carlsruhe will be sent back again at once!
Has Wagner given his opinion more decidedly about a "Tristan"
performance in Leipzig? Can you let me know the contents of his
letter?
With heartfelt greetings, your
F. Liszt
Weymar, January 25th, 1860
If you should see Schuberth, tell him that I have something to
communicate to him that would perhaps repay him for the trouble
of coming to see me here for a couple of hours. I have no
intention of coming to Leipzig for the present. Tell him that
delays of this kind make me "nervos" [nervous] (He knows what the
word "nervos" means with me.)
233. To Friedrich Hebbel
[Communicated by Dr. Felix Bamberg, from the original]
The words which you write to me bear the two-fold eloquence of
the praiseworthy man in the fore-rank of Art, and of the friend
dearly loved and highly respected by me. Accept my warmest thanks
for it, and please excuse me for not having told you sooner what
a strengthening and healing effect your letter made on me. Work
of all sorts and a long absence from here occasioned this delay.
In the interim I was often with you in thought; only the day
before yesterday I read to the Princess your two glorious Sonnets
an den Kunstler ["To the Artist"], "Ob Du auch bilden magst, was
unverganglich" - "Und ob mich diese Zweifel brennen
müssen?"["Whether thou canst form what is imperishable": "And
whether these doubts must burn me."] -
From Weymar I have nothing interesting nor especially agreeable
to tell you. This winter will pass away pretty quietly and
insignificantly at the theater, with repertoire works and pieces
that will bring in money, and in society with the customary
pleasures. A new drama by Rost, "Ludwig der Eiserne," made some
sensation, as is peculiar to the very popular productions of this
author, who has achieved a public-house notoriety here. The
nobles ought to have appeared in it yoked to the plough, but on
Dingelstedt's advice Rost toned down that scene! - A translation
by Frau Schuselka (who has performed here sometimes) of the "Pere
prodigue" of Dumas fils was to have come on the boards; but it
appears that there are scruples about making such very ominous
demands on the customary powers of digestion of our un-lavish
fathers of families! Amongst other inconveniences the piece also
contains logarithms, to which the respectable German Philistine
cannot attain.
As regards myself, I am quietly waiting for the spring, when I
shall in all probability move on further - of course not to renew
my occupation of conducting, as it is said I shall do in Munich,
Berlin, or elsewhere - an occupation I have gladly given up; - but
in order to be able to pursue my work further than I am able to
do in Weymar, which to me is a more important matter.
Remember me most kindly to your wife, and be assured that I
remain ever in truest devotion yours most faithfully,
F. Liszt
Weymar, February 5th, 1860.
234. To Dr. Franz Brendel
[February 1860]
Dear Friend,
Although as a general rule I consider that it is not the business
of the Neue Zeitschrift to go in for polemics, yet it seems to me
that the little notice that Hanslick has put in No. 49 of the
Vienna Presse, Saturday, the 18th February, is of such a kind
that one must not ignore it.
The Presse is a paper with a tremendous circulation in the
monarchy, and Hanslick counts among the leaders of our opponents;
it would therefore be worth while to make an exception by coming
forward on this occasion, unless (which I cannot as yet believe)
your Vienna correspondent has been guilty of the mischievous
conduct which Hanslick so severely reports.
