[A "Giant Grand Piano" With Three Keyboards And
Pedals And Registers, Made According To Liszt's Own Directions.]
I Hope You
Will excuse this delay in consideration of the short
time left me, and that you feel sure beforehand how kindly
I take
it of you for thus taking my part, in divers circumstances, for
the honor of my name and of my reputation - a matter in which I
will endeavour not to render your task too difficult.
With regard to the Schubert opera of which you again spoke to me
in your last letter, I have a preliminary and very important
observation to make to you - namely, that the rights of the score
of "Alfonso and Estrella," in three acts, were obtained some
years ago by Messrs. Hartel of Leipzig. As this work has not
hitherto been performed anywhere they have not been in a hurry to
publish it, and it was only communicated to me (by a copy) in
case of a performance at Weymar. Therefore, before taking any
other steps, it is indispensable that you should apply to Messrs.
Hartel to obtain their authorization, either for a performance,
or for the right to make a foreign edition of this work, and to
make conditions with that firm relative to the matter. I do not
doubt that Messrs. Hartel will be most obliging in the matter;
but you cannot neglect this first step without serious ulterior
disadvantages.
Hartel's consent once given, you must think of adapting to this
charming music a libretto which is worthy of it, - and, if you are
fortunate in doing this, success, and a popular and productive
success, is undoubted.
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