The three songs would make up two numbers of the programme.—
I especially beg of you, dear friend, not to make any protest against the song of Hiller. The plainly fair and just thing, which has nothing in common with the "elevated right" which is bestowed exclusively on Capellmeister Rietz and his associates (as the Leipzig University expressed it), consists simply in not shutting the door to publicity in anybody's face, or maliciously and slyly casting stones and mud at him. Regardless of the fact that we must not expect that they on their side will deal thus with us, we must consistently and faithfully carry out and fulfill this simple justice and fairness, and thus show the gentlemen how people of a nobler mind and more proper cultivation behave. You perhaps remember the opinion which I have many times given and proved by actions—especially at the Versammlung- Versammlung, when Frau Dr. Reclam sang Hiller's (somewhat mediocre) Psalm, and…etc. After that I vote especially for the performance of one of Rubinstein's larger works, such as the proposed Symphony, and beg you to appoint Bronsart for it.—It would lead me too far to explain my views in detail; that I have no concessions or favoritisms in view in this matter goes without saying.
7. The co-operation of the violinist recommended by Schuberth must be considered, and even qualified, according to his talent.
8. "Tasso" can quite well be performed without the harp. A pianino will do quite well, and I beg you most earnestly not to put yourself to any inconvenience for my things. In my orchestral works I have taken the larger measure of instrumentation (Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Dresden—or, if you prefer personal names, Meyerbeer, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Berlioz); but in spite of this most of them can be performed in smaller proportions, as has been most strikingly shown, for instance, in Sondershausen. The chief thing before all else is the conductor; if he be a good and reliable musician things may then be well managed in a variety of ways—and in "Tasso" especially the harp is hardly wanted. So don't bother yourself any more about it, and soothe Bronsart.
If I am not mistaken, I think I have now answered all the principal questions in your letter. As to what concerns personal matters we will talk about that shortly. I shall write one of these next days to Schuberth (as soon as I have finished my revisions for Schott). He has made me a proposal to which I am inclined to agree. [The rest of the letter is missing.]
252. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear friend,
I expressly wish that Weissheimer should accompany the songs which Fraulein Genast will sing at the Euterpe soiree. I have especially commissioned him to make the motive of this wish of mine, if necessary, still clearer to you. With regard to the choice of songs you will easily come to an understanding with the amiable singer. But I, for my part, hold to the opinion that Hiller's "Wallfahrt nach Kevlaar" is well suited to the programme.
The "Faust" Symphony must be written out quite fresh once more before I send it to Schuberth. By the 15th February he will receive the manuscript, together with a couple of lines for Dorffel, who is almost indispensable to me as the corrector of this work. I shall be over head and ears in work the next few weeks, in order to do all that is necessary before I start on my journey to Paris, which I shall probably do on the 20th February.
Best thanks for all the information in your last letter. Some things, indeed most things, are still going very badly—upon which we cannot and must not make ourselves any illusions;—but if we are proof against these things we shall come out of them.