Eight days before the 19th April (Russian style) I will be in Petersburg. I entreat you to make as little ceremony as possible for my humble self. The two programmes appear to me all right; I will tell you when I get to Petersburg what my small part in them will be. On the 19th April, then, "Elizabeth;" on the 23rd a concert.—Tell the Committee to address their invitation to me, for the two performances, to "Novello and Co., Music Publishers, 1, Berners Street, London." From the 1st to the 12th April I am Novello's guest. How does it stand with regard to my lodging in Petersburg, for which my inadequate means will not suffice?—From you, dear friend, I shall expect to hear something definite in London.—However honorable for me were the invitation to Warsaw I could not comply with it now. My return to Weimar is requisite before the end of May, on account of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Sondershausen.
Heartily and truly yours,
F. Liszt
Argenteau [Liege], March 18th, 1886
Enclosed are some lines and the photographs that friend Zet wished for.—To write anything further under the photographs for the use of the newspaper I consider quite superfluous. Excess does not suit me at all.—
379. To the Countess Mercy-Argenteau
Westwood House, Syndenham (Near London, Where Everything is
Distant).
Wednesday, April 14th, 1886
Very Dear President and Brave Russophile Propagandist,
The second performance of the "Elizabeth," which is fixed for next Saturday, at the Crystal Palace, detains me here some days longer than I had anticipated.