January 20th, 1873
Much-Esteemed Friend,
At New Year I sent you a copy of the Stabat Mater by Palestrina "for the lecture arranged by R. Wagner." The inaccuracies and errors of this copy I have carefully corrected, for in such a masterly and exemplary arrangement every iota is of importance. Wagner gave me his manuscript 18 years ago in Zurich, and forgot afterwards where it was. As regards its publication, which is much to be desired, it is not for me to interfere in the matter in any way, and I beg you to come to some understanding with Wagner about it. If he should wish to correct his old manuscript (the paper of which has become rather yellowish) I will gladly place it at his service.
124. To Eduard von Liszt
Dearest Eduard,
Having considered the matter about the certificate of death which Rothschild wished to have, I shall not make use of Belloni in connection with it. If Emile Ollivier were still in Paris it would be his place to procure the certificate. My dear good mother died in his house (Rue St. Guillaume, Faubourg St. Germain) at the beginning of January 1866. He looked after her and took tender care of her for several years; and finally had her body taken to the Church of St. Thomas d'Aquin for the funeral service, and followed it thence to its last resting-place in the cemetery of Montparnasse. This noble conduct and his speech at the grave I cherish in my innermost heart.
Since the winter of 1866 I have never been back in Paris, and my relations with trustworthy persons there are as good as entirely broken off. Hence I yesterday went and got good advice from friend Augusz, and have accepted his proposal, namely, to address a request to Count Alexander Apponyi—son of and Secretary to the Austrian ambassador in Paris—to procure the certificate of death of my mother and to send it to you. Let Rothschild know of this matter, which, let us hope, will soon be satisfactorily settled.
Many thanks for the trouble you are taking about the bust by Zumbusch, and which I very much wish personally to present to Bosendorfer in Vienna as an Easter egg. I know I can rely wholly upon your ever faithful and incomparable readiness to do me a favor.
Allow me one other request, which will cost you only half an hour's time and a visit. The visit is to an extremely interesting, learned and distinguished man—Dr. Ambros, formerly Imperial Solicitor-General in Prague, now professor and referendary to the Officielle Zeitung in Vienna, always an eminent writer on aesthetics, history, the history of music, a polygraphist, composer—in fact, a good friend of mine. Be kind enough to tell him that I am awaiting his answer in the affirmative, respecting a lecture by him on Robert Franz at the extra Soiree arranged in honor of and for the benefit of Robert Franz; Dr. Ambros was at my request respectfully invited by Herr Dunkl ("Firma Roszavolgyi") to give us his assistance. I take part too as pianist, collector and arranger of the Soiree, and hope that Dr. Ambros—who is so specially competent for the task, owing to his eloquent and valuable treatise on Robert Franz—will give us brilliant assistance, and give us a speech there without talking himself out. The warmest welcome and appreciation will await him on all sides. But obtain his kind consent as soon as possible, together with a written yea to Dunkl (Musikverlag Roszavolgyi, Christoph-Platz, Pest).
Heartiest greetings to your wife and children, and au revoir on the 2nd April.