fmb-1839-01-19-02

            Leipzig 19th Jan. 1839 Dear Sir
I beg to say my best and sincere thanks to the Directors of the Philharmonic Society for the enquiry they have been kind enough to make about my new Compositions. I have begun last year a new Symphony which I should feel very proud and happy to have performed in that Society and I wish I might be able to bring it over myself and present it to the Directors, but am not quite sure whether my occupations here will allow me to finish it so early, and then I should like to know whether I could have the honour of conducting, (as I did during my last stay in the season) and if there should also be an opportunity for my playing at the Society’s Concerts. I could spend the month of April in London & should be extremely happy to find an opportunity of visiting again your country & those friends that have always received me with so great a kindness. A new Symphony which I may truly & entirely recommend to you is a Manuscript of Spohr’s (in C minor) but of this you will have heard already. It ought to have been published some months ago at Vienna, but is still delayed I do not know why. I am sure he would allow you the use of his Manuscript, as he did to us for the Concerts here, & you will be delightet with the many beautiful things you will hear in it. – Besides that I cannot say of any novelty in the Shape of Symphonies which has made any impression here & which I could recommend. As for Overtures my favourites are two new M. S. ones of Ferdinand Hiller, a young composer of talent, which we have performed several times and which were much liked by the amateurs. Should you wish to have them I could send the parts over. All the other novelties passed by without notice.
f you complain of scarcity of vocal talent, what shall we say, whose only delight since two years has been derived from your country? Indeed Clara Novello and Mrs. Shaw are the best Concertsingers that we have had in this country for a long time, & the strong impression they produce shows sufficiently that the Public feels the want as well as the musicians. The only good singers here are now to be found on the stage, and even there I do not know of any Soprano which I could fully recommend for your purpose; as for a Tenor, there is one at Dresden (his name ist Tichatschek) who is so universally praised, that I cannot doubt he must be excellent; his voice and method are said to be exquisite & he is still very young; but he also is on the stage and I do not know whether he could be induced to come over for the Concerts. There is also a good Contra Alto singer (Mlle. Botgorschek) at Dresden, her voice is beautiful but her method not quite correct, & I fear she would not produce great effect in London, where you are accustomed to hear the first artists in the world.
Allow me also to take this opportunity for recommending to the Society Mr. David a friend of mine, one of the best musicians which we now have in Germany, who intends visiting England at the beginning of March, and who is extremely anxious to make his first public appearance in England at the Philharmonic Concerts; I promised him to use the interest I could have, to make him obtain that honour and I do it with true pleasure as I am sure his compositions as well as his playing (Violin) will produce a great and strong sensation among the musical public. Indeed few modern compositions are so well written and yet so free from stiffness and so universally pleasing as his & his performance is excellent. His modesty is so great that it would certainly be a great encouragement to him if he knew before he begins his journey that he could find a place in one of your Concerts, & therefore you would oblige me very much (if the thing can be done) to let me have an answer to my request – at all events I hope the liberty I take will be kindly excused by the Society.
Believe me dear Sir very truly yours
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.          

            <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0 ../../../fmbc_framework/xsd/fmb-c.xsd" xml:id="fmb-1839-01-19-02" xml:space="default"> <teiHeader xml:lang="de"> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title key="fmb-1839-01-19-02" xml:id="title_622d1aa5-c6e94-41b5-a3cb-109a6e511ae7">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an William Watts in London <lb></lb> Leipzig, 19. Januar 1839</title> <title level="s" type="incipit" xml:id="title_00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">I beg to say my best and sincere thanks to the Directors of the Philharmonic Society for the enquiry they have been kind enough to make about my new Compositions. I have begun last year</title> <title level="s" type="sub" xml:id="title_d37c2ed47-c3d0-4586-a72d-159ea08931e9">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online (FMB-C)</title> <title key="unknown" type="precursor" xml:id="title_ca7d3e375-ff82-4951-ac68-413d73c7dbbc">unbekannt</title> <title key="unknown" type="successor" xml:id="title_e4a7e7f7d-3dca-4992-ba2b-a6fda16d506c">unbekannt</title> <author key="PSN0000001">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</author> <respStmt> <resp resp="writer"></resp> <persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName> </respStmt> <respStmt resp="transcription"> <resp resp="transcription">Transkription: </resp> <name resp="transcription">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> <respStmt resp="edition"> <resp resp="edition">Edition: </resp> <name resp="edition">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <publisher>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe (FMB-C). Institut für Musikwissenschaft und Medienwissenschaft. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin</publisher> <address> <street>Am Kupfergraben 5</street> <placeName> <settlement>10117 Berlin</settlement> <country>Deutschland</country> </placeName> </address> <idno type="URI">http://www.mendelssohn-online.com</idno> <availability> <licence target="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)</licence> </availability> <idno type="MSB">Bd. 6, 2210</idno> </publicationStmt> <seriesStmt> <p>Maschinenlesbare Übertragung der vollständigen Korrespondenz Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys (FMB-C)</p> </seriesStmt> <sourceDesc source="edition_template_manuscript" xml:id="sourceDesc_b7668105-1933-40e35-89f4-827d35bec485"> <msDesc> <msIdentifier> <country>Großbritannien</country> <settlement>London</settlement> <institution key="RISM">GB-Lbl</institution> <repository>London, The British Library</repository> <collection>RPS</collection> <idno type="signatur">MS. 355, fol. 190-191.</idno> </msIdentifier> <msContents> <msItem> <idno type="autograph">Autograph</idno> <title key="fmb-1839-01-19-02" type="letter" xml:id="title_d511c288-c59e-47e6e-8ce8-e07e319910b3">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an William Watts in London;  Leipzig, 19. Januar 1839</title> <incipit>I beg to say my best and sincere thanks to the Directors of the Philharmonic Society for the enquiry they have been kind enough to make about my new Compositions. I have begun last year</incipit> </msItem> </msContents> <physDesc> <p>4 beschr. S.; Adresse, mehrere Poststempel.</p> <handDesc hands="1"> <p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy </p> </handDesc> <accMat> <listBibl> <bibl type="none"></bibl> </listBibl> </accMat> </physDesc> <history> <provenance> <p>-</p> </provenance> </history> <additional> <listBibl> <bibl type="printed_letter">Foster, Philharmonic Society, nach S. 152 (Faksimile der dritten Seite).</bibl> </listBibl> </additional> </msDesc> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <encodingDesc> <projectDesc> <p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C: Digitale Edition der vollständigen Korrespondenz Hin- und Gegenbriefe Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys auf XML-TEI-Basis.</p> </projectDesc> <editorialDecl> <p>Die Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C ediert die Gesamtkorrespondenz des Komponisten Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 1809-1847 in Form einer digitalen, wissenschaftlich-kritischen Online-Ausgabe. Sie bietet neben der diplomatischen Wiedergabe der rund 6.000 Briefe Mendelssohns erstmals auch eine Gesamtausgabe der über 7.200 Briefe an den Komponisten sowie einen textkritischen, inhalts- und kontexterschließenden Kommentar aller Briefe. Sie wird ergänzt durch eine Personen- und Werkdatenbank, eine Lebenschronologie Mendelssohns, zahlreicher Register der Briefe, Werke, Orte und Körperschaften sowie weitere Verzeichnisse. Philologisches Konzept, Philologische FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Uta Wald, Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Digitales Konzept, Digitale FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Technische Konzeption der Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence FMB-C Ausgabe und Webdesign: Dr. Ulrich Taschow.</p> </editorialDecl> </encodingDesc> <profileDesc> <creation> <date cert="high" when="1839-01-19" xml:id="date_f993aeb65-aa69-4e42-8880-fadb1d062a41">19. Januar 1839</date> </creation> <correspDesc> <correspAction type="sent"> <persName key="PSN0000001" resp="author" xml:id="persName_05ae5a8a-2d7ed-4f74-8212-5934a3c9c84a">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName> <note>counter-reset</note><persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName> <placeName type="writing_place" xml:id="placeName_ff557e97-iiwe-4e7c-abfa-034bfb5e5dcb"> <settlement key="STM0100116">Leipzig</settlement> <country>Deutschland</country> </placeName> </correspAction> <correspAction type="received"> <persName key="PSN0115636" resp="receiver" xml:id="persName_74374d29-6b57-4d81-b063-ddfbf9a86ea7">Watts, William (?-1859)</persName> <placeName type="receiving_place" xml:id="placeName_72c3ea7b-b959-4aff-bdfd-558d10404a37"> <settlement key="STM0100126">London</settlement> <country>Großbritannien</country> </placeName> </correspAction> </correspDesc> <langUsage> <language ident="de">deutsch</language> </langUsage> </profileDesc> <revisionDesc status="draft">  </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text type="letter"> <body> <div type="address" xml:id="div_f9ddf924-f06e-49fd-bz36-5d1d800f477b"> <head> <address> <addrLine> <hi n="1" rend="underline">W. Watts</hi> </addrLine> <addrLine>Esqure</addrLine> <addrLine>Secretary to the Philharmonic Society</addrLine> <addrLine> <hi n="1" rend="underline">London</hi> </addrLine> <addrLine>45 Cirencester Place, Fitzroy Square</addrLine> </address> </head> </div> <div n="1" type="act_of_writing" xml:id="div_0d148810-ec5b-4da9-b39d-467a643cddb7"> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="author" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_3a98ce9a-1d0d-492a-811f-1e3ad3c9f72e">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="writer" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_a251b051-e48a-4473-b786-e4e4e48af227">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <dateline rend="right">Leipzig <date cert="high" when="1839-01-19" xml:id="date_03e6a659-cb79-405f-8670-cc3a256cc6d4">19<hi rend="superscript">th</hi> Jan. 1839</date></dateline> <salute rend="left">Dear Sir</salute> <p style="paragraph_without_indent"> I beg to say my best and sincere thanks to the Directors of the <placeName xml:id="placeName_be8d8f15-59cc-4975-9a16-2d49262b4f4d">Philharmonic Society<name key="NST0100287" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">Philharmonic Society</name><settlement key="STM0100126" style="hidden" type="">London</settlement><country style="hidden">Großbritannien</country></placeName> for the enquiry they have been kind enough to make about my new Compositions. I have begun last year a new <title xml:id="title_8887ec9c-cbc6-465a-b392-5a192f567e46">Symphony<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="list_c74aba78-021f-45e7-8e29-58b2c7183f08"><item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item><item n="2" sortKey="instrumental_music" style="hidden"></item><item n="3" sortKey="orchestral_music" style="hidden"></item><item n="4" sortKey="symphonies" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100343" style="hidden">Sinfonie B-Dur für Orchester, Fragment, [ca. 1838 bis 1840]<idno type="MWV">N 17</idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title><list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_smwamd5b-rllv-jah7-mykn-clibro4zqwha"><item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item><item n="2" sortKey="instrumental_music" style="hidden"></item><item n="3" sortKey="orchestral_music" style="hidden"></item><item n="4" sortKey="symphonies" style="hidden"></item></list> which I should feel very proud and happy to have performed in that Society and I wish I might be able to bring it over myself and present it to the Directors, but am not quite sure whether my occupations here will allow me to finish it so early, and then I should like to know whether I could have the honour of conducting, (as I did during my last stay in the season) and if there should also be an opportunity for my playing at the Society’s Concerts. I could spend the month of April in London &amp; should be extremely happy to find an opportunity of visiting again your country &amp; those friends that have always received me with so great a kindness.A new Symphony which I may truly &amp; entirely recommend to you is a Manuscript of <persName xml:id="persName_729e7b56-681a-414a-9cf6-e3c2e28cad6a">Spohr’s<name key="PSN0115032" style="hidden">Spohr, Louis (Ludewig) (1784-1859)</name></persName> (in <title xml:id="title_bwww3a0c-7a25-4a9e-a88d-b78721f8ewds">C minor<name key="PSN0115032" style="hidden" type="author">Spohr, Louis (Ludewig) (1784-1859)</name><name key="CRT0110945" style="hidden" type="music">5. Sinfonie c-Moll, op. 102</name></title>) but of this you will have heard already. It ought to have been published some months ago at Vienna, but is still delayed I do not know why. I am sure he would allow you the use of his Manuscript, as he did to us for the <placeName xml:id="placeName_154ae827-d1fe-4e90-9222-aae0209b2fde">Concerts<name key="NST0100117" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">Gewandhaus</name><settlement key="STM0100116" style="hidden" type="">Leipzig</settlement><country style="hidden">Deutschland</country></placeName> here, &amp; you will be delightet with the many beautiful things you will hear in it. – Besides that I cannot say of any novelty in the Shape of Symphonies which has made any impression here &amp; which I could recommend. As for Overtures my favourites are two new M. S. ones of <persName xml:id="persName_731462ae-cd3b-4c26-8b3d-71c3ae2w3ad1">Ferdinand Hiller<name key="PSN0112003" style="hidden">Hiller, Ferdinand (seit 1875) von (1811-1885)</name></persName>, a young composer of talent, which we have performed several times and which were much liked by the amateurs. Should you wish to have them I could send the parts over. All the other novelties passed by without notice. </p> <p>f you complain of scarcity of vocal talent, what shall we say, whose only delight since two years has been derived from your country? Indeed <persName xml:id="persName_7a2e4577-3979-7433-bc3c-2d028c571b10">Clara Novello<name key="PSN0113621" style="hidden">Novello, Clara Anastasia (1818-1908)</name></persName> and <persName xml:id="persName_0ce2e41c-58f8-4f17-uue2-4e480facd4ad">Mrs. Shaw<name key="PSN0114893" style="hidden">Shaw, Mary (1814-1876)</name></persName> are the best Concertsingers that we have had in this country for a long time, &amp; the strong impression they produce shows sufficiently that the Public feels the want as well as the musicians. The only good singers here are now to be found on the stage, and even there I do not know of any Soprano which I could fully recommend for your purpose; as for a <persName xml:id="persName_27a1d4a2-8323-345c-816c-c38a3a6790a4">Tenor<name key="PSN0115331" style="hidden">Tichatschek (Ticháček), Josef Aloys (1807-1886)</name></persName>, there is one at Dresden (his name ist <hi rend="underline">Tichatschek</hi>) who is so universally praised, that I cannot doubt he must be excellent; his voice and method are said to be exquisite &amp; he is still very young; but he also is on the stage and I do not know whether he could be induced to come over for the Concerts. There is also a good Contra Alto singer (<persName xml:id="persName_5ba2bd35-71a5-4c6e-9tw7-1890568afe3c">Mlle. Botgorschek<name key="PSN0110046" style="hidden">Botgorschek, Caroline (1815-1875)</name></persName>) at Dresden, her voice is beautiful but her method not quite correct, &amp; I fear she would not produce great effect in London, where you are accustomed to hear the first artists in the world. </p> <p>Allow me also to take this opportunity for recommending to the Society <persName xml:id="persName_8b4c2052-e3b0-789a-84b6-1fcec870a87b">Mr. David<name key="PSN0110564" style="hidden">David, Ernst Victor Carl Ferdinand (1810-1873)</name></persName> a friend of mine, one of the best musicians which we now have in Germany, who intends visiting England at the beginning of March, and who is extremely anxious to make his first public appearance in England at the <placeName xml:id="placeName_75af7814-8e09-4eda-b8dd-a33e8ce0a6d7">Philharmonic Concerts<name key="NST0100287" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">Philharmonic Society</name><settlement key="STM0100126" style="hidden" type="">London</settlement><country style="hidden">Großbritannien</country></placeName>; I promised him to use the interest I could have, to make him obtain that honour and I do it with true pleasure as I am sure his compositions as well as his playing (Violin) will produce a great and strong sensation among the musical public. Indeed few modern compositions are so well written and yet so free from stiffness and so universally pleasing as his &amp; his performance is excellent. His modesty is so great that it would certainly be a great encouragement to him if he knew before he begins his journey that he could find a place in one of your Concerts, &amp; therefore you would oblige me very much (if the thing can be done) to let me have an answer to my request – at all events I hope the liberty I take will be kindly excused by the Society. </p> <closer rend="left">Believe me dear Sir</closer> <signed rend="right">very truly yours</signed> <signed rend="right">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.</signed> </div> </body> </text></TEI>