Have you heard anything of Wagner? Rienzi is being studied here, and I have undertaken to conduct the rehearsals. With regard to the performance I have at once mentioned decidedly that nothing will induce me to make an exception and conduct it—consequently Musik-director Stor will conduct it.
246. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,
Since I have again had a conference with respect to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Weymar next August, I am happy to be able to tell you that not only will there be no obstacle to it, but that we may expect that much will be done to further the matter here. In your next announcement in the Neue Zeitschrift about the Tonkunstler-Versammlung you are therefore fully authorized to intimate the readiness of the artists, both vocal and instrumental, here and in the neighborhood (Jena, Eisenach, Sondershausen, etc.), as also the favorable disposition of H.R.H. the Grand Duke, for the matter. This latter point must be mentioned with some formality, so that I can submit your article to my gracious master.
According to my opinion it would be well if, in this connection, you were to touch upon the musical antecedents of Weymar (performances of Wagner, Berlioz, Schumann), also the founding of the Academy of Painting by the Grand Duke which took place lately, and also the protectorate which H.R.H. has undertaken of the Allegemeine deutsche Schiller-Stiftung [The Universal German Schiller Scholarship] (the first place of which is to be Weymar next year).
Yours in all friendship,
F. Liszt
December 2nd, 1860
P.S.—With the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung I join three principal things:—
(1) The founding and establishing of the Tonkunstler-Vierein.