With the
[Here Liszt writes a musical score excerpt of a whole note A falling to quarter note D, in octave below middle C, with the word 'Cre - do' under the notes]
Cre-do we will conclude this time in Vienna! We must not give certain gentlemen any occasion to imagine that I concern myself about them more than is really the case. Faust and Dante can quietly wait for the due understanding of them. I must send them next to Hartel, so that they may be published by the end of this year. Give my very best thanks to Hellmesberger for the kind way in which he meets me; he will forgive me if I cannot as yet put it to use. Under existing circumstances it is wise and suitable for me "to strive with earnest consistency for my high aim, regardless of adverse circumstances and small-minded people."
At the end of next week I go to Lowenberg, and thence back to Weymar. Therefore no concert in Vienna for this season—what may happen later on remains meanwhile undecided.
The Pest concert has also not been given; but possibly my Symphonic Poems may obtain a hearing in Pest sooner than in Vienna, because I may expect much more susceptibility to them here. When I have got my Opera finished, [This must be "Sardanapalus.">[ I must in any case stay here a couple of month— and on that occasion, perhaps, I may be able to bring in my Symphonic things in three or four concerts. But there is no hurry whatever for this; the "Elizabeth" and the Opera must be finished first…
My intention had been to get to Vienna yesterday, and to be satisfied with calling only on our four solo-singers and Count Raday in Pest to express my thanks. But I was pressed on all sides in so kind a manner to let my Gran Festival Mass be heard again that I willingly acquiesced. The articles in the Austrian p[aper], and your brochure, have done the most towards stirring up the general wish. The public is like this—that they only know what they ought to think of a work when they see it printed in black and white!—You have therefore to answer for it if the Mass is performed here a second time—on Friday afternoon in the Museum-Saal (for the benefit of the Conservatorium) and on Sunday in the Parish Church. On Monday evening I shall be in Vienna. I wrote to Tausig yesterday that we would decide on the evening of our musical meeting at your house after Countess Banffy has chosen on the evening for her soiree (at which Tausig will play). If I hear anything further about it Tausig shall let you know at once, so that you may be able to make your invitations in advance. On Thursday or on Saturday at latest I leave Vienna. All further particulars viva voce.
Yours ever,
F. Liszt
There is no truth in the idea of a private concert. I will tell you in what way I might be able to realize it another time—and will take counsel and consent about it from you.
202. To Eduard Liszt