The proof-copy I simply sent back to you, unaltered and nothing crossed out, as all the various readings are admirably suitable, and henceforth I leave it to your good pleasure to decide about the publishing. (In Russia Hofmeister's German copyright holds good, does it not? . . .)
Tomorrow I go to Paris, and will observe there your recommendation of the Russian instrument.
Many of your admirers frequently tell me about you; above all Zschocher and Topfer. You come backwards and forwards to Dresden and Leipzig; why not also to Weimar?…Answer this modest question in person here to throe old and most faithful
F. Liszt
Weimar, June 5th, 1878
231. To Eduard von Liszt
[Weimar, June 6th, 1878]
Dearest Eduard,
Adalbert Goldschmidt has brought you Weimar news. I consider his "Todsunden" a remarkable Art-work. If the composer maintains himself on these heights in his next Opera his name will become famous in spite of all the critics…
Nowadays, more than ever, the public thirst for Opera alone. Everything else in music is nonsense to them. There is a French saying—"There is some one who is wittier than Mr. de Voltaire; that is everybody"—and when all the world gets a fancy into its head one must certainly consider it either reasonable, or stupid,—but necessary—