July 1st, 1864
Yesterday I received a friendly letter from Seroff. Could not some fragment from his "Judith" be fitted into your Carlsruhe programme?
32. To Walter Bache in London
[The addressee (1842-1888), a pupil of Liszt's, settled in London as teacher, pianist and conductor, devoted his whole life there to making Liszt's music known in England. His annual Recitals and Orchestral concerts were devoted mainly to this object.]
I reply to your letter, dear Mr. Bache, by assuring you once more of my very sincere and affec-* *tionate interest. You will never find me wanting or behindhand when it is a question of proving this to you; be very sure of that.
The good news you give me of Madame Laussot is very welcome to me. I hope she will give me the pleasure of coming again to Rome, for I see no chance of my coming to Florence. Towards the middle of August I shall start for Carlsruhe, where I have promised to be present at the third Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Thence I shall go to Weimar, and shall take Paris on the way in order to see my mother again before returning here at the beginning of October.
Please tell Madame Laussot that she would wrong me if she did not count me amongst her most truly affectionate and devoted adherents. I especially preserve a grateful remembrance of her in connection with the "Ideale," and all that attaches to it. She is of the very small number of noble and intelligent exceptions in the too great number of my friends and acquaintances. I was speaking to this purpose the day before yesterday to a young person of Grecian origin who lives in Florence at the Count de Sartiges' house (and who frequents Madame Laussot's concerts). The Athenian plays the piano marvellously and charmingly.
You will bring me Ehlert's Scherzo with other of his compositions.
Meanwhile I commission you to give my best compliments to Ehlert.
A thousand cordial and affectionate things, and a revoir next winter.