F. Liszt
Weymar, December 14th, 1854
You did not know Rubinstein at Weymar. [Liszt was mistaken about this. Mason had even done the principal honors to Rubinstein at his first visit to Weimar, in the absence of the Master.] He stayed here some time, and notoriously cuts himself off from the thick mass of so-called pianist composers who don't know what playing means, and still less with what fuel to fire themselves for composing—so much so that with what is wanting to them in talent as composers they think they can make themselves pianists, and vice versa.
Rubinstein will constantly publish a round fifty of works— Concertos, Trios, Symphonies, Songs, Light pieces—and which deserve notice.
Laub has left Weymar; Ed. Singer has taken his place in our orchestra. The latter gives great pleasure here, and likes being here also.
Cornelius, Pohl, Raff, Pruckner, Schreiber, and all the new school of new Weymar send you their best remembrances, to which I add a cordial shake hand. [Written thus in English by Liszt]
F. L.
130. To Rosalie Spohr
Pray pardon me, dear artist and friend, that I am so late in expressing the hearty sympathy which your Weymar friends take in the joyful event of your marriage. [To Count Sauerma.] You know well that I am a poor, much-bothered mortal, and can but seldom dispose of my time according to my wishes. Several pressing pieces of work, which I was obliged to get ready by this New Year's Day, have prevented me up to now from giving you a sign of life—and I am employing my first free moment to assure you that the changing date of the year can bring with it no variation in my sincere, friendly attachment. Remember me most kindly to the papa and sister, and write to me when you can and tell me where you are going to live henceforth. Possibly I might happen to be in your neighborhood, in which case I should hasten to come and see you.
I have but little news to give you of Weymar. That Litolff has been to see me here, and played his two Symphony-Concertos capitally, you doubtless know. Probably he will come back after his journey to Brussels, in the course of next month, when I also expect Berlioz here. Our orchestra now also possesses a very first-rate harpist, Frau Dr. Pohl, with a good double-movement harp of Erard. It seems that poor Erard is no better, and his "cure" at Schlangenbad has not had the desired result. I frequently get very sad tidings of his condition through my daughter.