178 To Wladimir Stassoff in St. Petersburg
[A Russian writer, a musical and art critic, at present director of the Imperial Public Library at St. Petersburg.]
An illness, not in the least dangerous, but very inconvenient, since it obliges me to keep my bed rather often (as at this moment), has deprived me of the pleasure of replying sooner to your very kind letter, firstly to thank you for it, and also to tell you how delighted I shall be to make acquaintance with Mr. Scroff’s manuscripts, which you kindly introduce to me in so persuasive a manner. Many people who have the advantage of knowing Mr. Seroff, among others Mr. de Lenz and Prince Eugene Wittgenstein, have spoken of him to me with great praise, as an artist who unites to real talent a most conscientious intelligence. It will be of great interest to me to estimate the work to which he has devoted himself with such praiseworthy perseverance, and thus to avail myself of the opportunity offered to me of hearing those sublime works of the LAST PERIOD (I purposely put aside the inappropriate word MANNER, and even the term STYLE) of Beethoven—works which, whatever Mr. Oulibicheff and other learned men may say who succeed more easily in POURING FORTH in these matters than in being well versed [A play on words—verser and verse.] in them, will remain the crowning point of Beethoven’s greatness.
With regard to the edition of these scores of Mr. Seroff’s for two pianos, I will willingly do what you wish, though at the same time confessing to you that my credit with the editors is not worth much more than my credit with the above-mentioned learned men, as these latter do their best to keep all sorts of cock-and-bull stories going, which prevent the editors from running any risk in mad enterprises they have so peremptorily been pointed out to be! And, more than this, you are not ignorant that arrangements for two pianos—the only ones adapted to show the design and the grouping of ideas of certain works—are but little in favor with music-sellers and very unsaleable, as the great mass of pianists is scarcely capable of PLAYING ON the piano, and cares very little (except sometimes for form’s sake and human respect) for the interest of intelligence and feeling which might attach to the promenades of their fingers. In spite of all this, please rest assured, sir, that I shall neglect nothing that can justify the confidence you place in me, and pray accept the very sincere regards of Yours most truly,
F. Liszt
Weymar, March 17th, 1857
I am awaiting with impatience the parcel you promise me, and beg you to make it as large as possible, so that I may make a thorough acquaintance with Mr. Seroff’s work. Especially be so good as not to forget the arrangement of Beethoven’s latter Quartets.