Vatican, May 11th, 1865
40. To Breitkopf and Hartel
Dear Herr Doctor,
My old musical weaknesses have not left me! The weakest and worst thing about them is perhaps that I never cease composing; but such wondrous things go wandering about in my head that I cannot help putting them down on paper. And I have wanted to hear something about the fate of the manuscripts I sent you for printing. Have the pianoforte scores of the Beethoven Symphonies been published? How has the printing of the Concerto for 2 pianos (in E minor) [Concerto pathetique] progressed? Would you kindly let me have a few copies soon?
With regard to the autographed orchestral parts of my "Symphonic Poems," I should be glad if they could be out by the end of July. Probably at the beginning of August I go to Pest, where several of my compositions (more especially the "Dante Symphony") are to be performed in connection with the festivities at the Conservatoire. If the parts should be ready, please, dear Herr Doctor, forward them to me to Pest. At present I do not require them here; but should the "Preludes" be ready you would greatly oblige me by sending all the orchestral parts, with four copies of the quartet, if possible by the beginning of next month, to Dr. R. Pohl (571, Hirschgasse, Baden-Baden). I have been asked for the loan of them for some festival in Baden conducted by Monsieur Reyer.
Pray kindly excuse all the trouble I am giving you, and receive the expression of my most sincere esteem.
F. Liszt
The Vatican, May 27th, 1865
41. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,