Dear Sir,
All your compositions bear the stamp of distinction and of good taste. This one is charmed to find again in the "Arabesques" you are kind enough to send me. Pray accept my thanks and the expression of my very sincere and devoted esteem.
F. Liszt
(Villa d'Este,) December 25th, 1879.
255. To Frau Reisenauer-Pauly in Rome
[The mother of Liszt's pupil, Alfred Reisenauer]
Dear Madame,
My best thanks for your kind notice of the Roman concert of January 23rd. It seems to me that "populations necessiteuses" [distressed population] would have been better on the programme than "populations affamees" [starving population] of Silesia.
Mendelssohn's excellent Concerti always hold their ground without risk, especially since Berlioz's witty article (published nearly 30 years ago), according to which they are occasionally performed by the pianos alone, without further trouble on the part of the pianist.
While taking affectionate part in the success achieved by your son Alfred, whose talents are duly valued by me, I remain, dear Madame,