19 settembre 1912
Ho ripensato a “Judith” e credo fermamente che
Sono in rapporti con B. per colpa di “Cassandra”, e quindi un poco per colpa sua!!! ma non le grido per questo il crucifige. Il B. mi ha infatti proposto quantità di affari teatrali, editoriali – ma se mostra davvero le mie lettere mostrerà anche che sino ad oggi ha fatto cilecca – almeno che si accontenti di far vedere che sono firmate da me – e allora di mie firme ce ne sono tante pel mondo che davvero……….
Mi son trovato con
Con Puccini siamo pure d'accordo e se scriverà, scriverà per Casa Ricordi. Spetta quindi a Lei, caro Illica, a non lasciar cadere la palla ora che ha preso il primo rimbalzo – e se fossi in lei... andrei presto a
Sta benissimo quanto vuol fare pel povero
Mi dica del
Suo aff°
Tito Ricordi
19 September 1912
Dear Illica,
I've given more thought to "Judith", and it seems certain to me that Brüggemann is just the man we need. When I have the pleasure of seeing you again I'll have you listen to pieces from "Faust" and "Margherita", and you'll see that I am right.
I've been dealing with B. thanks to "Cassandra", and therefore thanks indirectly to you as well!! but I'm not about to condemn you for it. In fact, B. proposed a number of theatrical and editorial business deals — but if he actually does show my letters around he'll also betray the fact that he's gained nothing for it to date — unless he finds it sufficient to demonstrate that they were signed by me — in which case, there are so many of my signatures floating around the world that in truth.........
I met with Marchesano and Puccini and made a concrete proposal for Leonardi — we'll see if he accepts it.
We're also in agreement with Puccini that if he writes anything, it will be for Casa Ricordi. So it's up to you, dear Illica, not to drop the ball now that you've caught it on the first bounce — and if I were you... I'd dash off to Viareggio or to Torre del Lago with what's finished and not leave Giacomo until everything was worked out.
I'm most grateful for how much you want to do for poor father — it's not the amount of money that matters — it's the name, and yours was among those that he treasured most of all — and so it is good of you want to to join the initiative to dedicate [a monument] to his memory.
Let me know about the Russian subject and about Puccini.
Yours fondly
Tito Ricordi