Wagner's Letters

Richard Wagner to Franz Liszt

April 15, 1857 · Zurich

Overview

Wagner complains that a letter of his about Liszt was printed inaccurately and with damaging omissions in the journal, so he has sent a corrected version elsewhere rather than rely on errata. He insists that any alteration of his meaning would be a serious misunderstanding, and says he continues to live in great retirement and work only as far as his health allows.

Letter

Dear friend,

The somewhat tardy publication of my letter about Liszt I recently read in your paper, and saw, to my regret, that it was very incorrect, and even showed several omissions, disfiguring the sense, owing to the inattention of the printer. At first I thought of forwarding you a list of errata, but considered, on reflection, that such corrections are never read in context with the article, and therefore made up my mind to send a revised version to Zellner at Vienna, asking him to print it at once in his paper. My intention is by no means to punish you for the neglect shown to me, but to induce those interested in the matter to read the corrected letter once again. In case you intentionally made such changes as "purer form of art" into "newer," etc., you have certainly misunderstood me very much, and in that case you must look upon my correction as a demonstration against yourself, although only in private. But I presume that most of the mistakes were caused by the fact that instead of my manuscript you received a copy, which you should not have accepted. Shall I soon see you? I live in the greatest retirement, and do as much work as my health will let me.

Richard Wagner

Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #4234, Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 2, No. 237