208 To Felix Draseke
My very dear Friend,
Herewith the piano edition of the two first acts of “Sigurd.” [Opera by Draseke.]—Imagining that you may also want the score of the first act, which had remained here, I send it also, sorry as I am to part from this monumental work. Under present existing circumstances, which on my side are passive and negative, as I intimated to you after the performance of Cornelius’s Opera, there is no prospect of putting Sigurd on the boards at present. But I promise myself the pleasure and satisfaction of letting all your “Tamtis” and “Beckis” be heard, when I have again resumed my active work at the Weymar theater, for which there may probably be an opportunity next season.
After you left Weymar we had to swallow a kind of second piece or supplement to the performance of the “Barber of Baghdad,” on occasion of Madame Viardot’s performance as “guest” here. But I will not weary you with tales of our local miseries and crass improprieties. I will only intimate thus much—that, under the present Intendant régime, to my sorrow, the inviting of Frau Schroder-Devrient to play here as guest is met by almost unconquerable difficulties from within. Tell our excellent friend Bronsart this, and tell him into the bargain that a concert (in the room in the Town Hall), at which he and Frau Schroder-Devrient should appear without any other assistance, would certainly be very welcome to the public, and I should look upon this as in any case a practical introduction to the performance as guest. This matter lies outside my present sway, but it goes without saying that I will not fail to let my slight influence towards a favorable solution of the matter be felt.—
The day before yesterday I heard at Gotha your countryman’s new opera (Diana von Solange) for the second time. The work was received with great approval, and is shortly to be given in Dresden, where you will be best able to judge of it. Mitterwurzer and Frau Ney have some very effective moments in it.
The concerts of the joint Weymar and Gotha orchestras (a matter which I broached long ago) again came under discussion, and possibly this March an attempt will be made to set them going. Meanwhile let us look after our cordial [Magen-Starkung] “mentre che il danno e la vergogna dura,” [“Whilst prejudice and shame last.”] as Michael Angelo says.—
Friendly greetings from your faithful and devoted
F. Liszt
January 12th, 1859
Will you give the enclosed letter to Bronsart?