WeGA, Briefe, Digitale Edition
author: Weber, Carl Maria von
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
witness: wit1 = US, San Marino, Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery 1 DBl. (3 b. S. einschl. Adr.) PSt: a) DRESDEN | 20. Feb. 25. b) ALLEMAGNE | PAR | FORBACH c) 4-EVEN | 2 MAR | 1825 am oberen Rand Bl
witness: wit2 = D, Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung, Mus. ms. autogr. theor. C. M. v. Weber WFN 6 (XVII), Bl. 90a/v u. 90b/r

J. R. Planché, Esqr[^a1]

[^a1: Esqr | om. (wit2)]
20. Brompton Crescent.
in London

My dear Sir!

I have received the second act of Oberon the 18t January, and[^a2] the third act, and your very amiable letter, in one and the same Day, the 1t February.

[^a2: om. | om. (wit2)]

These two acts are also filled with[^a3] the greatest beauties[^a4]. I embrace the whole in[^a5] love, and will endeavour, not[^a6] to remain[^a7] behind you. To[^a8] this Acknowlegment of your work, you can give[^a9] credit, the more, as[^a10] I must repeat that the cut of the whole is very foreign to[^a11] all my ideas and maxims.[^a12] the intermixing of so many principal actors[^a13] who do[^a14] not sing, the omission of the music in the most important moments, — all these things deprive[^a15] our Oberon[^a16] the title of an opera, and will make[^a17] him unfit[^a18] for all other Theaters in Europe; which is a very bad thing for me. but — passons la dessus —

[^a3: filled with | filled with (wit2)]

[^a4: greatest beauties | greatest beauties (wit2)]

[^a5: in | in (wit2)]

[^a6: not | not (wit2)]

[^a7: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a8: To | To (wit2)]

[^a9: you can give | you can give (wit2)]

[^a10: as | as (wit2)]

[^a11: to | to (wit2)]

[^a12: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a13: many principal actors | many principal actors (wit2)]

[^a14: do | do (wit2)]

[^a15: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a16: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a17: make | make (wit2)]

[^a18: unfit | unfit (wit2)]

You have so well construed[^a19] my first prayers; that I continue with proposals, in confidence to[^a20] your Kindness.

[^a19: so well construed | so well construed (wit2)]

[^a20: confidence to | confidence to (wit2)]

The Scene between[^a21] Sherasmin and Fatima in the 2 act; and the /: very pretty :/ Arietta of the latter, must necessarely be[^a22] omitted [Der Dialog von Sherasmin und Fatime sowie Fatimes Arietta (Nr. 10) blieben schließlich doch als Bestandteil von Szene II/2 erhalten.]; and the quartetto follow immediately. Also the Chorus[^a23] of the Pirates. But, the time which[^a24] we gain[^a25] thereby, we must open for[^a26] a Duetto between[^a27] Huon and Reiza. The absence of this piece of music[^a28] would be very much[^a29] regretted; and the Scene upon the desert shore, seems the most convenient place for it. though my musical heart sighs, that the first moment where[^a30] the loving pair find each-other[^a31], passes without music [Dieser Vorschlag wurde schließlich nicht umgesetzt.]. but, — the opera appears too long already. — [im Entwurf ursprünglich: already seems the whole opera too long; korrigiert zu: already appears the opera too long und durch Ziffern in die endgültige Reihenfolge gebracht]

[^a21: between | between (wit2)]

[^a22: must necessarely be | must necessarely be (wit2)]

[^a23: Chorus | Chorus (wit2)]

[^a24: which | which (wit2)]

[^a25: gain | gain (wit2)]

[^a26: we must open for | we must spend for (wit2)]

[^a27: Duetto between | Duo between (wit2)]

[^a28: The absence of this piece of music | The absence of the piece of music (wit2)]

[^a29: much | much (wit2)]

[^a30: where | where (wit2)]

[^a31: each-other | each other (wit2)]

Now wish I yet, a mad[^a32] Aria for Sherasmin, /: when he discovers[^a33] the Horn; :/ in which Fatima's lamentations unite[^a34], and close[^a35] the scene with[^a36] a beautiful contrast [Auch dieser Vorschlag wurde schließlich nicht umgesetzt.].

[^a32: mad | mad (wit2)]

[^a33: discovers | discovers (wit2)]

[^a34: lamentations unite | lamentations unite (wit2)]

[^a35: close | close (wit2)]

[^a36: with | with (wit2)]

Oh![^a37] Dear Sir! what would not[^a38] we produce, if we were living in the same town.

[^a37: Oh! | Oh (wit2)]

[^a38: not | not (wit2)]

Still I beg leave to observe, that the composer looks more for[^a39] the expression of feelings than the figurative. the former he may[^a40] repeat and develop in all their graduations; but, verses, like

[^a39: looks more for | looks more for (wit2)]

[^a40: he may | he may (wit2)]

like the spot the tulip weareth
Deep within its dewy urn [Duett Nr. 6, Rezia.]
or, in Huons Song[^a41], like hopes that deceive us
„or false friends who leave us“
„Soon as descendeth prosperit'ys Sun pp“ [Aus der ursprünglichen (nicht vertonten) Fassung von Huons Rondo Nr. 20.]
must be said only once.[^a42]

[^a41: Song | Song (wit2)]

[^a42: must be said only once. | must be said only once. (wit2)]

You See, that I speak to[^a43] you, as to an old acquaintance[^a44], and I hope at least that you will consider it[^a45] so.

[^a43: to | to (wit2)]

[^a44: to an old acquaintance | to an old acquaintance (wit2)]

[^a45: om. | om. (wit2)]

Mr Kemble[^a46] has not honored me[^a47] till now with an answer to[^a48] my letter of[^a49] the 6t January. I conclude from[^a50] this, that he is convinced of the necessity to retard the opera, and that consequentely we have time to regulate our affair. The same reason has also withheld me from replying to his[^a51] letter of the 4 January, which has crossed mine of[^a52] the 6 January.

[^a46: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a47: me | me (wit2)]

[^a48: an answer to | an answer to (wit2)]

[^a49: of | of (wit2)]

[^a50: from | from (wit2)]

[^a51: also withheld me from replying to his | also withheld me from replying to his (wit2)]

[^a52: has crossed mine of | has crossed mine of (wit2)]

Yet, I must own the[^a53] wish, to see[^a54] this affair decided at last [im Entwurf: at last decided; durch Ziffern Reihenfolge in die endgültige Form geändert]; because[^a55] all sort of uncertainty puzzles[^a56] me, and disturbs me in working[^a57].

[^a53: own the | own the (wit2)]

[^a54: to see | to see (wit2)]

[^a55: because | because (wit2)]

[^a56: puzzles | puzzles (wit2)]

[^a57: in working | in working (wit2)]

To speek sincerely[^a58], I do not unterstand[^a59] why our honored[^a60] Friend Mr Kemble hesitates[^a61] to name[^a62] the sum which he can offer me. [im Entwurf an dieser Stelle:] He knows what length he can go, to the credit of[^a63] his country and Establishment. I can make no[^a64] demand, but I would neither appear[^a65] indiscreet, nor suffer injury[^a66], the latter of which [im Entwurf ursprünglich: of which the latter; durch Ziffern in die richtige Reihenfolge gebracht] I have — but too frequently experianced[^a67]. Russia, Sweden, Poland, France, Scotland and England, have brought on the [der Beginn des Satzes steht im Entwurf am Rand.] boards my performances without their beeing entitled to it[^1], for my works have not been printed[^a68]. And tho' I do not value[^a69] money, to take notice of it, the world forces me at last[^a70].

[^a58: To speek sincerely | To speek sincerely (wit2)]

[^a59: do not unterstand | do not understand (wit2)]

[^a60: honored | honored (wit2)]

[^a61: hesitates | hesitates (wit2)]

[^a62: name | name (wit2)]

[^a63: length he can go, to the credit of | length he can go, to the credit of (wit2)]

[^a64: make no | make no (wit2)]

[^a65: neither appear | neither appear (wit2)]

[^a66: injury | injury (wit2)]

[^a67: too frequently experianced | too frequently experianced (wit2)]

[^a68: have not been printed | have been printed]

[^a69: And tho' I do not value | and though I do not value (wit2)]

[^a70: at last | at last (wit2)]

[^1: Weber bezieht sich hier wohl u. a. auf die Freischütz-Aufführungen in Riga (ab 25. September = 7. Oktober 1822), Stockholm (ab 23. April 1823), St. Petersburg (ab 7. = 19. Januar 1824), London (ab 22. Juli 1824), Paris (ab 7. Dezember 1824) und Edinburgh (ab 29. Dezember 1824), für die er keine Honorarzahlungen erhalten hatte.]

Pardon, Dear Sir, that I am molesting[^a71] you with things you[^a72] can not be interested in[^a73] — but Poets and composers live together in a[^a74] Sort of angels-marriage which demands a[^a75] reciprocal trust[^a76]. and now it is truely[^a77] time to end[^a78] my very[^a79] checkered Epistle.

[^a71: om. | om. (wit2)]

[^a72: you | you (wit2)]

[^a73: interested in | interested in (wit2)]

[^a74: a | a (wit2)]

[^a75: a | a (wit2)]

[^a76: trust | trust (wit2)]

[^a77: truely | truely (wit2)]

[^a78: end | end (wit2)]

[^a79: very | very (wit2)]

I am with the greatest esteem and regard Your most obedient Servant C. M. von Weber.
Dresden, Februar the 19th 1825.