* * * * *
LEIPZIG, July 12, 1846.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--In answer to your letter let me say without delay that
the last time I passed through Birmingham the touch of the organ
appeared to me so heavy that I could not venture to perform upon it in
public. If however it is materially improved, I shall be happy to play
one of my Sonatas; but I should not wish this to be announced before I
had tried the organ myself.
With great pleasure, or rather with--Well, you know what it is to me to
sit at the piano with you, and it needs no words to assure you that I am
at all times ready. You decide, please, what it shall be; my head is
quite full of “Elijah” just now. The Double Concerto of Bach is
beautiful, but not brilliant; that of Mozart rather the other way.
Anyhow, I will bring the former. But I must really be excused as regards
playing a Solo. As it is, I feel the strain of conducting more than I
used, and am no longer capable of playing a Solo and conducting a new
piece of my own at the same concert. Some other instrumental number had
better be put on the programme; that seems to me more appropriate, too,
than having two pieces for the piano. Now, please let me know soon the
date fixed for the Festival, as Mr. Moore has not yet informed me; also
who is going to sing the Solos in my Oratorio. When “Saint Paul” was
performed in Birmingham, it was followed by a selection from Handel’s
Oratorios; I much disapproved of this, and trust it is not to be the
case this time.
Please answer all these questions, and tell me the latest date you can
allow for my arrival;
[Illustration: 30. Medallion of Mendelssohn. Modelled by Knauer, of
Leipzig, soon after the composer’s death, and presented to the Directors
of the Gewandhaus.]
earlier I shall not be able to come, but I hope I may find time to
remain a little afterwards. In the course of next week I will send the
last part of the manuscript.
It is not yet settled whether my wife goes with me, but I think she
will.
With kindest messages, ever yours,