Style, and saying cavalierly to the public, "The
concert is - myself." For the curiosity of the thing I copy one of
the programmes of the soliloquies for you: -
1. Overture to William Tell, performed by M. L.
2. Reminiscences of the Puritani. Fantaisie composed and
performed by the above-mentioned!
3. Etudes and fragments by the same to the same!
4. Improvisation on themes given - still by the same. And that was
all; neither more nor less, except lively conversation during the
intervals, and enthusiasm if there was room for it.
A propos of enthusiasm, I ought at least to talk to you of St.
Peter's. That is the proper thing to do when one writes from
Rome. But, in the first place, I am writing to you from Albano,
whence I can only discern the dome, and, secondly, this poor St.
Peter's has been so disguised, so embellished by papier-mache
wreaths, horrid curtains at alcoves, etc., etc., all in honor of
the five or six last saints whom His Holiness has canonised, that
I try to put away the recollection of it. Happily there have not
been any workers of miracles to glorify at the Coliseum and the
Campo Vaccino, otherwise it would have been impossible to live in
Rome.
If nothing occurs to prevent it, I expect to pass the end of next
winter (March and April) in Paris. Will you permit me then to
fill up all the gaps in my correspondence from the Rue d'Anjou?
[Here the Princess lived.] I count always upon your friendly and
indulgent kindness. But shall you extend this so far as to give
me a sign of life before the close of my stay in Italy? I do not
know. In any case, letters addressed poste restante, Florence,
will reach me till the 1st of next September.
I beg you, Madame la Princesse, to accept the expression of my
profound and most devoted respect.
F. Liszt
Albano, June 4th, 1839
Will you be good enough to remember me affectionately to (Madame)
your sister and to Mr. d'Aragon?
19. To Robert Schumann
[From a copy from the Royal Library in Berlin.]
Albano, June 5th, 1839
My dear Monsieur Schumann,
At the risk of appearing very monotonous, I must again tell you
that the last pieces you were so kind as to send me to Rome
appear to me admirable both in inspiration and composition. The
"Fantaisie" dedicated to me is a work of the highest kind - and I
am really proud of the honor you have done me in dedicating to me
so grand a composition.
