The Dryads, and the
Infernals echoed in my ears from all the trees and lakes of our
park.
In my work I strove after an ideal of the antique, which should
be represented, not as an ancient skeleton, but as a living and
moving form. A beautiful stanza of Andre Chenier,
"Sur des pensers nouveaux faisons des vers antiques," ["On modern
thoughts let us fashion verses antique."]
served me for precept, and showed me the way to musical plastic
art and symmetry.
The favorable opinion you have formed of the work in reading it
through is a token to me that I have not altogether failed - I
hope that the performance will not spoil your sympathy for it. I
leave the direction, with the utmost confidence, entirely in your
hands. - You always hit on the right thing, and navigate
satisfactorily with your entire forces the occasional
difficulties of the dissonant entries, and of the pathetic
delivery which is absolutely essential in several places. It
would certainly be a great pleasure to me, dear friend, if I
could be present at the performance in Vienna on the 26th
February, to enjoy your intelligent and inspired performance, but
I am prevented from doing this by various circumstances (an
explanation of which would lead me too far).
I beg you therefore not to induce the directors to invite me,
because I might not be in a position to make my excuses.
