From the 13th to the 15th June (Whit week) a Tonkunstler- Versammlung is announced at Erfurt. It will seem pale as compared with that of Hanover of last year; but I want to be present at it, considering my unvarying interest in the work undertaken by the late Brendel and bravely continued by Riedel and Gille. After having said A, and even B and C, I ought to go through the whole alphabet.
Formerly, in the first period of your success, I had the pleasure of applauding and admiring you at the old theater of Erfurt. Now there is a new and very handsome one, I am told, with more than 1100 seats; besides that a new concert room which I do not know, any more than I do the theater. I dare not invite you to favor them with your presence, but if you should come with Hans it would be charming.
The next time I see X. I shall come upon him to show himself an editor rather than a shopkeeper ("Kramer") in the little negotiation of which you speak.
A thousand sincere wishes for the finishing of "Hiarne" [The Opera composed by Frau von Bronsart, which was given for the first time in 1892 in Berlin with great success.] and my constant and very devoted homage to the persevering composer.
F. Liszt
Weimar, Saturday, April 20th, 1878
228. To Eduard von Liszt
Dearest and most honored Cousin,
The accompanying copy of the Budapest telegram will tell you that I must go to Paris probably at the end of May. I had indeed refused several private invitations to visit the Paris Exhibition; for years past both long and short journeys-unless there is some special reason for them—have been inconvenient, difficult and repugnant to me. It was on that account that I told you and others of my having given up the collective-wonder of Paris.
Now the telegram from Trefort and Szapary (President of the
Hungarian Exhibition in Paris) alters my negative decision.
Without ever talking twaddle about patriotism, yet in all modesty
I will not be wanting where there is something to be done for
Hungary.