* * * * *
The next letter refers to the following incident: Mendelssohn had
conducted the Philharmonic Concerts during the season of the preceding
year. On one occasion he arrived late at a rehearsal, owing to
unavoidable causes, and was so discourteously received by some of the
members of the orchestra that he laid down his baton and refused to
proceed. Some of the Directors who were present succeeded, not without
difficulty, in pacifying him; the offenders were requested to leave the
room, and he was finally persuaded to resume his office.
* * * * *
LEIPZIG, June 26, 1846.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--The occasion of these lines is a passage in Mr. Moore’s
letter, in which he says: “Nearly the whole of the Philharmonic band are
engaged; a few only are left out, who made themselves unpleasant when
you were there.”
Now, I strongly object to this restriction; and as I fancy you can
exercise your authority in the matter, I address my protest to you, and
beg you to communicate it to Mr. Moore. There is nothing I hate more
than the reviving of bygone disputes; it is bad enough that they should
have occurred. This one of the Philharmonic is, as far as I am
concerned, dead and buried, and must on no account have any influence on
the selection made for the Birmingham Festival. If men are to be
rejected because they are incompetent, that is not my business and I
have nothing to say in the matter; but if it is because “they made
themselves unpleasant when I was there,” I consider that an injustice,
against which I protest. Any further disturbance on the part of these
gentlemen, I am sure, is not to be feared. That at least is my belief,
shared probably by all concerned. So you will sincerely oblige me by
having the selection made exactly as if I were not coming to England.
The only consideration that can be shown me is not to take me into
consideration at all. You will do me a favor by putting this very
strongly to Mr. Moore, and requesting him to let the matter drop. If my
wishes are to be complied with, the incident must herewith end. Should
it be otherwise, I shall write another dozen letters in protest against
what I should consider a spirit of vindictiveness. Excuse all this.
Ever yours,