196 To Professor L. A. Zellner in Vienna
You may believe me, dear friend, when I tell you that all the disagreeables and vexations which the preparations for the performance of my Mass [The Gran Festival Mass.] draw upon you are the most acutely felt by myself. Do you really think it is desirable to go against trifles of this sort and openly to fight them? I should not like to decide this “a distance”; but I promise you that I will not leave you in the lurch if in the end the indispensable invitation to me follows. The concert at Prague is to take place on the 12th of March, and I invite you to it. Then after that I can travel with you on the 14th to Vienna or return to Weymar. But I hope the former. I have nothing whatever to say against the invitation of the Pest singers, because the four persons have remained in my friendly remembrance. Yet I must remark that the performance of the solos in my Mass offers no special difficulties, and that consequently it could be quite suitably and satisfactorily given by Vienna singers, which seems both simpler and pleasanter. Herr Dr. Gunz, Herr Panzer, and Fraulein Huber are quite satisfactory to me as soloists, as also Fraulein Friedlowsky, of whom I have heard the highest praise as Elizabeth. The tenor and alto are the chief people concerned, as they have the principal subject in the Kyrie and Benedictus. If we have two rehearsals with pianoforte, which I shall have great pleasure in holding with the ladies and gentlemen myself, we shall thoroughly get to the bottom of it; and if the singers have steadfastness enough to make an effect with their part the thing will go of itself.
With regard to the chorus and orchestra I reserve it to myself to express my thanks to Hellmesberger and the chorus-directors in writing, as soon as I have definite tidings. But to you, dear friend, I can only repeat that he who will understand me loves me also—and that I remain,
Yours in all friendship,
F. Liszt
Weymar, February 8th, 1858