Yours ever,
F. Liszt
174. To Professor Franz Gotze in Leipzig
[The celebrated singer in Leipzig (1814-88); was a pupil of Spohr's, and was first violinist in the Weimar Hofcapelle, then went on to the stage, and both as a lyric tenor and as a singer of Lieder was incomparable. He was the first who publicly went in for Liszt's songs, in which his pupils imitated him.]
Dear Friend,
In consequence of an invitation of the directors, I shall have the honor of having several of my works performed at the concert on the 26th February for the Orchestral Pension Fund in Leipzig, and very much wish that you would do me the kindness to sing two of my songs ("Kling leise, mein Lied" and "Englein du mit blondem Haar"), and to rejoice the public with your ardent and beautifully artistic rendering of these little things.
Fraulein Riese is so good as to bring you the new edition of my six first songs (amongst which is the "Englein" in A major)—a couple more numbers will shortly follow.
Grant me my request, dear friend, and rest assured beforehand of the best thanks, with which I remain,
Yours in most sincere friendship, F. Liszt
Weymar, February 1st, 1857