Fine Books and Manuscripts

4 pages, 8vo, on a bifolium, ink spot on upper margin (for which Strauss apologizes at the start of his letter), a few stains in corners from mounting residue. Strauss reporting in a lengthy letter to his friend and publisher on Ritter Pasman's fifth performance, and speculates that if the opera continues to make sufficient income, Jauner will not be able to remove it from the repertoire. He also discusses Massenet's medal of the Legion of Honor: "Massenet has obtained for him the medal of the Legion of Honor-thus he became worthy to live in the opera house free of charge-while J[auner] can expect no less than a medal from the performance of Pasman. For the performance of the Spanish opera of Breton he has received a Commandeur (a kind of decoration or medal), for the opera by Massenet he has received the Legion of Honor-from me he gets nothing! Goodbye Pasman, he said thereafter. If today, again Hohenlohe was present at the opera for the 4th time, I do not yet know-he [Jauner] cannot jump around so carelessly. More news tomorrow" In a postscript written vertically along the margin of the second page, Strauss adds: "Orchestral parts of the first act are completed, [Schilar] will bring to you the necessary items."