Your most amiable letter did not reach me without some delay, for I took about ten days to make the journey from Rome to Budapest.

Madame Falk writes to me also of the concert at Liege, but I fear I shall only have excuses to offer. On the 20th March I shall be in Paris, where the "Gran Ma.s.s," too much criticised, and even hissed by some low fellows (at the Pasdeloup concert in '66), is to make its reappearance at St. Eustache on the 25th March. This time M. Colonne will conduct it, and I am a.s.sured that it will be better understood now...

Invariable homage,

F. Liszt

Budapest, February 17th, 1886

Very affectionate thanks for the invitation of Argenteau. Whether I can avail myself of it must remain in abeyance for your very humble servant, old and enfeebled.

378. To Sophie Menter

Dear and Respected Diplomatist,

Eight days before the 19th April (Russian style) I will be in Petersburg. I entreat you to make as little ceremony as possible for my humble self. The two programmes appear to me all right; I will tell you when I get to Petersburg what my small part in them will be. On the 19th April, then, "Elizabeth;" on the 23rd a concert.--Tell the Committee to address their invitation to me, for the two performances, to "Novello and Co., Music Publishers, 1, Berners Street, London." From the 1st to the 12th April I am Novello's guest. How does it stand with regard to my lodging in Petersburg, for which my inadequate means will not suffice?--From you, dear friend, I shall expect to hear something definite in London.--However honorable for me were the invitation to Warsaw I could not comply with it now. My return to Weimar is requisite before the end of May, on account of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Sondershausen.

Heartily and truly yours,

F. Liszt

Argenteau [Liege], March 18th, 1886

Enclosed are some lines and the photographs that friend Zet wished for.--To write anything further under the photographs for the use of the newspaper I consider quite superfluous. Excess does not suit me at all.--

379. To the Countess Mercy-Argenteau

Westwood House, Syndenham (Near London, Where Everything is Distant).

Wednesday, April 14th, 1886

Very Dear President and Brave Russophile Propagandist,

The second performance of the "Elizabeth," which is fixed for next Sat.u.r.day, at the Crystal Palace, detains me here some days longer than I had antic.i.p.ated.

From Tuesday next till Easter Tuesday I have asked for the kind hospitality of the Lynens (at Antwerp).

There is still some talk of the "Elizabeth" at the Trocadero on the 30th April. If you were not to be there it would be an affront to your very humble and admiring old servant,

F. Liszt

This time I shall stay at the Munkacsys' (Avenue Villiers, 53).

(In great haste.)

359. To Alexander Ritter in Meiningen

Antwerp, April 20th, 1886

My Very Dear Friend,

Heartfelt thanks for the dedication. Your "fauler Hans" [Ritter's Opera, "Der faule Hans"--"Lazy Hans"] has nothing lazy in it.

With its graceful, refined wit it is excellent company for our dear "Barber of Bagdad," which I shall shortly recommend Baron Loen (Weimar) to take up again in conjunction with the "fauler Hans."

Faithfully,

F. Liszt

In the middle of May I shall be back in Weimar. Give my respectful greetings to your wife.

381. To Frau Amalie von Fabry

My Dear Friend,

I wish my rooms in Budapest to remain closed during my absence.

[Many inquisitive people were fond of going and having a look round, so that Liszt was obliged to prohibit it.] For the rest, His Excellency Minister Trefort must give his own commands. There is no risk of his meeting with any opposition from my humble self. I shall not pa.s.s this summer much quieter than the winter and the spring. Next week I shall be at the Musical Festival at Sondershausen; then here again until the 30th June.

My granddaughter, Daniela von Bulow, is to be married on the 3rd July, at Bayreuth, to the highly esteemed Art-historian Thode.

After that, I shall stay from the 5th to the 18th July with my dear, excellent friends the Munkacsys, at their castle of Colpach (Luxemburg). I shall be present at the entire cycle of the Parsifal and Tristan performances at Bayreuth, from the 20th July till the 23rd August.

I am already more than half blind; perhaps I shall not have to wait long for the rest...

Ever faithfully yours,

F. Liszt

Weimar, May 27th, 1886

382. To Madame Malwine Tardieu

Weimar, May 29th, 1886

My sight is going, dear friend, and I can no longer write without difficulty.

Cordial thanks for your letter, and farewell till we meet at Bayreuth, at the performances of Parsifal and Tristan.

Your very affectionate