Yours ever,
F. Liszt
Nothing new here. The theatrical season will open with "Ernani"
on the 16th September at latest; they talk of mounting
"Rigoletto" or the "Foscari." Unfortunately the German
translations of Verdi's operas are not worth a straw, and we are
great purists at Weimar. In November the "Huguenots" will also be
given, for the first time at Weymar, the late Grand Duke never
having permitted the performance of this work on account of his
respect for Luther, whom his ancestors had specially protected.
Hartel is going to engrave several of my scores. Four or five of
them will appear in the course of the winter ("Tasso" - the
"Preludes" - "Orphee" - "Mazeppa" will be printed first) under the
title of "Poemes Symphoniques."
I won't write to Escudiers - it will be enough if you let them
know of my good intentions in regard to them. You know that I am
overdone with correspondence, and, unless it is absolutely
necessary for me to write, I abstain from it, so as not to
interrupt my work of composition, which is my first raison
d'etre.
123. To Eduard Liszt in Vienna
What affliction and what desolation, my very dear friend!
