As soon as I hear more definitely about the programme I shall answer Gille's friendly note. Meanwhile (after 4 months' incessant interruptions) I have again set to work, and cannot now leave it till the time comes for my journey.
What a royal and marvellous act is Ludwig of Bavaria's letter to Wagner! It ought verily to be engraved in the Walhalla in letters of gold. Oh that some other Princes would adopt a similar style!—
In all friendship, yours sincerely,
F. Liszt
Rome, May 28th, 1864
28. To Dr. Franz Brendel.
Dear Friend,
Shortly after sending off my letter anent the Peters-Schuberth squabble, I received the programme-sketch of your last letter but one. Exceedingly important and indispensable are the Wagner- numbers. Let me hope he has already given you a favorable reply. Bulow will be the best one to arrange things and to conduct. I wrote to him the day before yesterday to advise him again to be strictly moderate with regard to the number of my compositions. The half of what is given in your sketch of the programme would be amply sufficient. People do not want to hear so much of my things, and I do not care to force them upon them…On this occasion, especially, my wish is only to see some of my friends again—in no way to seek appreciative approval from the public. Such misleading abuses have long since and entirely ceased for me. Hence, dear friend, do not have me playing the braggart on your programme! If a place is to be retained for Remenyi he will fill it brilliantly. For both as a soloist and a quartet player his accomplishments are extraordinary.
You ask me about "definite news of my journey." As already said, I am determined to attend the Tonkunstler-Versamammlung, and afterwards to go to Weimar for a few days. My departure from here depends upon the date of the Carlsruhe concerts. I shall arrange to be there a few days previously, and shall ask Bulow to secure apartments for me. A variety of considerations (among which are economical ones too) compel me not to extend my absence from Rome beyond a month, and before returning I am in duty bound to pay my mother a visit in Paris. Hence I shall have but little time for strolls on the banks of the Ilm or elsewhere…But let me hope that my journey will not prove pure idling, and I shall do my best "to pave the way" to meeting all your wishes in as satisfactory a manner as possible. Further details on this subject I shall give you by word of mouth towards the end of August. All mere reports about my remaining in Germany for some length of time I beg of you to contradict most emphatically. Some newspapers seem anxious that it should be known that I am about to settle in Hungary. There is nothing whatever in this report beyond the anticipated order for my composing a second "Gran Mass", and perhaps publishing an Hungarian translation of the "Elizabeth." These two tasks may, during the course of next year, lead to my revisiting Hungary (?).
Kindly present my excuses to Riedel, who wishes me to attend his concert in the St. Thomas Church (at the beginning of July). I am delighted that the "Seligkeiten" find a place in his programme, and I am sincerely grateful to H. von Milde for having contributed so much to their success by his fine interpretation and inspired delivery. Whether the Psalm ("By the waters of Babylon") is not somewhat too low for Frau v. Milde's voice, I should not like to say. I remember, however, that she sang it on one occasion at the Altenburg gloriously. Of course I can consider it only a very flattering mark of attention and amiability on the part of Frau von Milde to venture anywhere to introduce any one of my compositions under her vocal protection, but especially in Leipzig.