By some mistake I did not receive your letter of the 16th till today. From my last you will have clearly seen that I do not wish any further performance of the "Elizabeth" before the score is published. As I told you, I have declined the offers from Dusseldorf, Dresden and other towns. Even as regards Leipzig, where I am under special obligations to Riedel (for he has on several occasions got his Society to give excellent performances of the "Gran Mass," the "Prometheus" choruses, the "Seligkeiten," etc.), I shall endeavor to defer the promised performance of the "Elizabeth." The matter would be one of special importance to me as regards Vienna,—and for this very reason I am anxious not to be in too great a hurry. Hence I most gratefully accept your mediation with Prince Czartoryski. Be my kind mediator and point out to him my peculiar position, so that there may not be any sort of vexation—and let the "Elizabeth" remain unperformed. I think I have clearly stated my reasons for this passive, or, if you prefer it, this expectative mode of action.
It would interest me to know how the "Coronation Mass" was performed and received in Vienna. Ask Herbeck in my name not to drag the tempi; the "Gloria," more especially, must be taken the more rapidly as it proceeds—the time to be beaten throughout alla breve. Send me word about this to Rome.
To please the Bulows I shall remain here till October 24th,—and be back in Rome, at latest, on the 30th.
If Bulow goes on working here for a couple of years, Munich will become the musical capital of Germany. In addition to my interest in all musical matters here, my stay has offered many other points of interest and pleasure by my intercourse with Kaulbach, Liebig, Heyse, Geibel, Redwitz, etc.—
Cordially yours,
F. Liszt
Munich, October 20th, 1867
Enclosed is a tolerably good photograph of my humble self.
59. To Peter Cornelius in Munich
Dearest Cornelius,