Whatever fate may be in store for my Symphonic Poems, however much they may be cut up and pulled to pieces and found fault with through their performances and reviews everywhere, yet the sight of the beautiful manner in which these first six numbers are published and got up will always be a pleasant satisfaction to me, for which I give you my warmest and heartiest thanks..—. The two scores still wanting (Nos. 1 and 9) I will send you at the end of this month, and will request you to publish them in the same size and manner. Although there is somewhat of the SPECULATIVE in these things, yet [I] by no means seek
to make a speculation of it, and only expect your friendly favor in so far as a favorable pecuniary result may arise from it in future years. I am expecting next time the proofs of the two- piano arrangements, and you shall receive the two remaining piano arrangements at the same time as the two last scores..—.
In the matter of the Handel-Gesellschaft, [Handel Society] the scheme of which you have sent me, pray be assured of my most complete readiness. The choice of Messrs. Hauptmann, Dehn, Chrysander (Otto Jahn?), as the musical directors proper, I consider thoroughly suitable—as also of Messrs. Gervinus and Breitkopf and Hartel as members of the committee—and, as soon as the pecuniary basis of the undertaking is fixed, I shall not fail to get you some subscriptions, as I did for the Bach- Gesellschaft.
With warm thanks and esteem,
Yours very truly,
F. Liszt
Weymar, May 15th, 1856
If it is possible to you to send me soon the proofs of the five piano arrangements I shall be glad, as they make the comprehension and spread of the scores easier.
153. To Louis Kohler
Dear Friend,