I beg you, Sir, to accept the expression of my high esteem.
F. Liszt
Weimar, September 21st, 1884
[To this Alex. Erkel made the proposal that Liszt's "Konigslied" ("Royal Song"), instead of being performed at the opening of the new theater on the 27th September, should be given at an "Extra Opera performance." The Master consented, but did not appear at this first performance of his work, which took place on the 25th March, 1885, and met with tremendous applause.]
350. To Walter Bache
[This letter is published, as a Preface, in the English edition of Liszt's "St. Elizabeth.">[
Very honored Friend,
For some twenty years past you have been employing your beautiful talent as a pianist, your care as a professor and as a conductor to make my works known and to spread them in England. The task seemed an ungrateful one, and its want of success menacing, but you are doing it nobly, with the most honorable and firm conviction of an artist. I renew my grateful thanks to you on the occasion of the present edition of the "Legend of St. Elizabeth," published by the well-accredited house of Novello. [The translator of the English edition (Constance Bache) has also translated many of Liszt's songs into English.]
This work, which was performed for the first time in 1865 at Budapest, has been reproduced successively in several countries and languages. Let us hope that it will also meet with some sympathy in England.
Your much attached