205. To Frau Rosa von Milde
[Court opera-singer in Weimar, nee Agthe; the first Elsa in
Lohengrin; a refined and poetical artist]
Weymar, August 25th, 1858
My honored and dear Friend,
If the outward circumstances which you mention in your kind
letter are not exactly of the kind that I could wish for you, yet
I am egotist enough to be much pleased at its friendly contents
towards myself. Accept my warmest thanks for them - and let me
tell you how anxious I am that you should like me very much, and
how desirous I am to deserve this - as far as it can be deserved;
for the best part of a harmonious intimacy must ever remain a
free gift.
The "wanton, ragged garments of the Muse," which you abandon with
strict generosity, make a show and please almost everywhere. Her
sensual charm is not unknown to me; yet I think I may say that it
was given me to lay hold of a higher and a pure ideal, and to vow
to it my whole endeavors for many years past. You, dear friend,
have, through your singing, often led me to this in the best way,
without thinking of it. Moreover it always does me so much good
when we meet in unity in the same path. -
Owing to a heap of visits (among which were several of deep
interest, such as Kaulbach, Varnhagen, Carus, etc.), I have been
much interrupted in the completion of the "Elizabeth." Still, I
hope to be ready with it by February. You will then again do the
best part for it, and must practice works of artistic mercy! -
What is the good of anything that is written on paper, if it is
not comprehended by the soul and imparted in a living manner? -
But among the works of mercy I am not desirous that you should
have to bury a still-born Oratorio! -
My heartfelt, twofold greetings to Milde, as friend and as
artist. I am writing the part of Landgrave Ludwig for him - and,
as the Landgrave is very speedily got out of the way, I will ask
him to undertake, in addition, two other parts (those of a
Hungarian magnate and a bishop).
The day after tomorrow I accompany the Princess to the mountains
and cascades of the Tyrol. On our return journey we shall spend a
couple of days in Munich, and shall be back here by the end of
September. Will you allow me to conduct "Alceste" on the 2nd of
October? - Sobolewski's "Comala" [Opera by Sobolewski.] is fixed
for the 12th. I shall give over to our common friend Lassen (to
whom please remember me warmly) the pianoforte rehearsals during
my absence.
I hope you will get quite strong and enjoy yourself much at the
seaside, dear friend, and return in good spirits to us at Weymar,
where you are quite indispensable to
Yours most truly and devotedly, F. Liszt
P.S. - Possibly Fraulein * * * (whose name at this moment I
forget) will come from Berlin to Weymar during my absence.
