140. To Dr. Franz Brendel.
[The first sheet of the original is missing]
Evers' [Doubtless Carl Evers (1819-75), composed Sonatas, Salon pieces, etc.] letter has amused me, and it will cost you but little diplomacy to conciliate the sensitive composer. You know what I think of his talent for composition. From people like that nothing is to be expected as long as they have not learned to understand that they are uselessly going round and round in what is hollow, dry, and used up. That good Flugel [Music writer and composer; at that time teacher in a school at Neuwied; now organist at the Castle at Stettin.] has also little power of imagination, although a little more approach to something more earnest, which has at least this good in itself—that it checks a really too naive productiveness…His letter on the Dusseldorf Musical Festival is again a little bit of Barenzucker [Liquorice.] (reglisse in French), and W.'s article in comparison with it quite a decent Pate Regnault. When we see each other again I will make this difference clear to you—meanwhile make the Rhinelanders happy with the latter, and don't be afraid of the whispers which it may perhaps call forth; for, I repeat, it contains nothing untrue or exaggerated, and in your position of necessary opposition it would be inconsistent if you were to keep back views of that kind from the public.
With the most friendly greeting, your
F. Liszt
June 16th, 1855.
My Mass for male voices and organ (published by Hartel two years ago) will be given next week at the church in Jena. As soon as the day is fixed I will let Fraulein Riese know.
Once more I recommend you to keep the W. article strictly anonymous.
141. To Concertmeister [Leader of orchestra] Edmund Singer.
Dear Singer,