Dear Friend,
Often I am behindhand and stop short of thanks with you, but it is certainly not for want of sincere affection and esteem.
Your "9th Annual Concert" has again shown the worth of your talents and the firm constancy of your character. Now in our artistic world character is still more rare than talent.
You nobly unite the two; it is a pleasure to me to acknowledge it, and to count you amongst the most devoted champions of progress and of musical good sense.
At their head, by right of age and capability, walks imperturbably and gloriously Hans de Bulow.
Will you give him the enclosed letter? and believe me ever, dear
Bache,
Your very cordially affectionate
F. Liszt
Weimar, August 20th, 1873
134. To Max Erdmannsdorfer, Hofcapellmeister in Sonderhausen