214 To Dr. Franz Brendel
[Autograph in the possession of Herr A.O. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.]
Herewith is an answer to the nine points of your letter of today, my dear friend [Referring to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Leipzig, in June, 1859].
1. The Mildes have got leave of absence from Monday, 30th April, till Friday, 3rd June, inclusive. Your programme remains as already fixed. Duet from the “Flying Dutchman”, “Cellini Aria”, Songs by Franz and Schumann (etc. ad libitum).
2. I will bring all the orchestral parts that there are with me, or, better still, I will send you the whole lot tomorrow. For “Tasso” the whole set is complete—but for the “Duet” from the “Dutchman”, and the “Cellini Aria” and “Overture” a couple of copies of the quartet will have to be written out afresh in Leipzig.
3. I do not possess the “Overture to the Corsair” [By Berlioz] (and would not recommend it for performance), and the “Prelude to Tristan” Bülow will see after.
4. I expect more particulars from Bülow in the course of the week.
5. I am writing today to Cornelius about the Prologue affair.
6. Herewith is the German text of the Mass,[Lizst’s “Gran Festival Mass.”] which is to be printed in Leipzig in the same manner as in Vienna—namely, with the addition of the Latin text- -and which belongs to the General Programme of the Festival. This programme we will settle and revise together next Sunday.
7. Leave of absence for Frau Pohl will be attended to.
8. I reserve to myself the matter of deciding on what pianists shall accompany the Ballads, and undertake the piano part of the “Trios” that are to be given. If possible I want Bronsart to take a part in it.
9. I will send off the definite invitations to the nobility next Sunday (at latest) from Leipzig to Gotha and Meiningen. I am coming to you on Saturday afternoon, 21st May [Must be 28th May, as the letter is dated the 23rd], and shall then stay in Leipzig till the end of the Festival. For the present a suitable room (without sitting-room) will satisfy me, and I beg you to bespeak this for me in the Hotel de Pologne for Saturday. My ministering spirit should have his room close to mine, because looking for him and calling is highly disagreeable to me.
Goodbye till Saturday. Your
F. Liszt
Monday, May 23rd, 1859
P.S.—The performance of “Judas Maccabaeus” (for the Handel Festival) is announced here for next Wednesday, 25th May. Tomorrow, Tuesday, there will be a similar Handel celebration in Erfurt with a performance of the “Messiah.” Frau von Milde will sing the soprano part there. Let Pohl know this—perhaps he may like to hear “Judas.”
The rehearsals of Rietz’s little Opera are in progress, and Pasque (who has written the libretto for it) told me yesterday that the first performance will take place next week. Probably Rietz will undertake to conduct it, as I proposed.