Minasi, the once popular painter, who sketched a portrait of Thalberg
during his first sojourn in London, also wrote an account of an
interesting conversation about Liszt:
"The purpose of my requesting an introduction to M. Thalberg was, first,
to be acquainted with a man of his genius; and next, to request the
favour of his sitting for his portrait, executed in a new style with pen
and ink. His total freedom from all ceremony and affectation perfectly
charmed me. He appointed the next morning at 9 for his first sitting;
and in my eagerness to commence my task, and make one of my best
studies, I was in his breakfast room a quarter of an hour before my
time. While he was taking his breakfast I addressed him in my own
language; and when he answered me with a most beautiful accent I was
delighted beyond measure. I felt doubly at home with him. Since then I
find that he is a perfect scholar, possessing, with his finished
pronunciation, a great propriety of conception.
"While I was putting on paper the outlines of his profile (a striking
feature of his face), I inquired whether he was acquainted with my
friend Liszt in Paris. He remarked that Liszt had disgraced himself with
all impartial persons by writing against him with violent acrimony in
the public prints; and which act he himself acknowledged was the result
of professional jealousy. I was the more grieved to hear this, because I
had entertained the highest respect for Liszt, who, as I told Thalberg,
would never have demeaned himself had his father been living; whose last
words to his son were: 'My son, you have always conducted yourself well;
but I fear, after my death, some designing knave will lay hold of and
make a dupe of you. Take care, my dear son, with whom you associate.' In
one instance, Liszt met Thalberg, and proposed that they should play a
duet in public, and that he (Liszt) should appoint the time. Thalberg's
answer was: 'Je n'aime pas d'etre accompagne,' which greatly amused the
Parisians. Upon another occasion, Liszt made free to tell Thalberg that
he did not admire his compositions. Thalberg replied: 'Since you do not
like my compositions, Liszt, I do not like yours.'
"To the honour of Liszt, however, it should be stated that, having
called upon Thalberg, he acknowledged his errors, making him a solemn
promise never to offend in the same manner, adding that the cause of his
attack upon him arose from jealousy of his rival's high talents, which
made him the idol of the Parisians, and by whom he was received with the
greatest enthusiasm. Thalberg dismissed the subject with me, by doing
justice to himself as a public performer; at the same time declaring
that Liszt is one of the greatest pianists in Europe, and he concluded
with the following generous admission: 'Nevertheless, after all that
has passed between us, I think Liszt would do anything to oblige me.'"