2nd. I do not share your rosy hopes of this work proving a success in towns where my earlier works not only met with little appreciation, but even received unseemly rebuffs. In Vienna, Leipzig, Berlin and even larger cities, the hisses of half a dozen stupid boys or evil-disposed persons were always sufficient to delude the public, and to frustrate the best intentions of my somewhat disheartened friends. In the newspaper criticisms these hissing critics are sure to find numerous supporters and pleasant re-echoes as long as the one object of the majority of my judges of this species is to get me out of their way. The improvement, which is said of late to have shown itself in regard to my position, may be interpreted somewhat thus: "For years in his Symphonic Poems, his Masses, Pianoforte works, Songs, etc., Liszt has written mere bewildering and objectionable stuff; in his "Elizabeth" he appears to have acted somewhat more rationally— still, etc., etc."—Now as I am in no way inclined to cry peccavi for all my compositions, or to assume that the castigations they received were just and justifiable, I do not consider it advisable to subscribe to the supposed extenuating circumstances of the "Elizabeth". I well know the proverb: "Non enim qui se ipsum commendat, ille probatus est," and do not think I am sinning against it. However it is possible that my resolute friends may, in the end, be right in asserting that my things are not so bad as they are made out to be!—Meanwhile what I have to do is to go on working quietly and undismayed, without in the smallest degree urging the performance of my works-nay in restraining some friendly disposed conductors from undertaking them.
3rd. After having two years ago excused myself to Herbeck about allowing a performance of the "Elizabeth" in Vienna, I cannot now immediately accept the friendly offer of Prince Czartoryski. It might be somewhat different had Herbeck attended the Wartburg performance, as I invited him to do through Schelle. But much as I appreciate and admire Herbeck's talent as a conductor, still I cannot know in advance whether he likes my work or not, or how far he agrees with my intentions. At all events I should have to come to some personal understanding with him on the subject before a performance is given in Vienna, just because this is a matter of importance to me, and the performance ought not to be a dementi of the preceding ones. It is much more to my advantage not to have my works performed at all, than to allow them to be performed in a half-and-half or unsatisfactory manner.—I may say quite frankly that it would certainly be very agreeable to me to stand in a somewhat better light in Vienna as a composer than I have hitherto done. But the time has not come for that—and if it should ever come, half a dozen of my compositions, for instance the 13th Psalm, the Faust and Dante Symphonies, some of the Symphonic Poems, and even, horribile dictu! the Prometheus Chorus, would have to be introduced to the public in proper style. Three concerts would be necessary for this, and would have to be announced beforehand, arranged and rehearsed, and there the "Elizabeth" might also then find a place among them. Herbeck would be an excellent one to arrange and conduct these concerts, provided he were not too much afraid of the obligations due to criticism. My personal position will not permit of my taking any part in them as a conductor; nevertheless I should not care to be altogether idle on the occasion, and hence should like, first of all, to have a careful discussion with Herbeck about various points that must absolutely be given thus and in no other way. It was in this sense that I wrote to Czartoryski that: "Ce qui est differe nest pas perdu" ("Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben") ["Put off is not given up.">[—and so I may possibly come to Vienna—in the winter of '69.
First of all, however, I need several quiet months in Rome in order again to take up the work that has been interrupted for so long. The Bulows have persuaded me to spend my birthday with them. The Munich Musik-Schule is in full activity and seems as if it were likely to outstrip the other Conservatoires. Bulow is assuredly justified in saying, "Go and do likewise"!—
Before the end of the month I shall be back in Rome. All hearty good wishes to you and yours, from your faithfully attached,
F. Liszt
Munich, October 16th, 1867
P.S.—Before long you will receive a visit from August Rockel. This name will probably call up to your imagination—as it has done in many other cases—an ultra-revolutionary agitator; in place of which you will find a gentle, refined, kindly and excellent man. I should like you to cultivate his acquaintance, and can cordially recommend him to you. His daughter (at the Burg Theater) you are sure to know—and you will also know of his old friendship with Wagner and Bulow. It was not till I came here that I became acquainted with Rockel and learned to value him.
Have you read in the Augsburger Allgem. Zeitung the extremely kind notice of my stay in Stuttgart? Best thanks also for sending me your article on the "Wanderer."
58. To Eduard von Liszt
Dearest Eduard,