27 XII 1912
Amaro e dolce – rimbrotti e panettone!! E tutto questo perché ho creduto di tacere prima – e poi perché ho creduto di continuare una cortese tradizione della nostra Casa. Ah! caro Illica, se i suoi nervi fossero meno giovani certo non mi avrebbe accusato di avere pochissima simpatia per lei, per poi coprirmi subito dopo di graziissime.
Non le ho scritto perché mi era assai doloroso di farle sapere quello che - presto o tardi - avrebbe saputo ugualmente – non le ho scritto perché nulla di definitivo c'era, e c'è ancora tutt'oggi, con
Ed ella mi rimprovera di aver taciuto!! mi dovrebbe ringraziare, ché così "Rosenblut" [sic] è ancora salva e viva, forse per lo stesso
Non ho capito nulla a proposito di
Arrivederci il giorno 2 di gennaio – intanto le mando i miei auguri sinceri per Capo d'Anno e si rammenti che io sono sempre
il suo aff°
Tito Ricordi
27 XII 1912
Dear Illica,
Both bitter and sweet — remonstrance and panettone!! And all this because first I thought it better to remain silent — and then because I wanted to continue an agreeable tradition our Company has maintained. Ah! dear Illica, if your nerves were less excitable, surely you would not have accused me of having so little regard for you, only to then immediately shower me with thanks.
I didn't write you because it was extremely painful for me to have to tell you what — sooner or later — you would have known anyway — I didn't write you because there was nothing definitive, and there still isn't today, with D'Annunzio — I didn't write you because I knew that Puccini, who paid me no heed when I so earnestly sang the praises of "Rosenblutt", would then have returned to the topic as soon as I stopped.
And you reproach me for my silence!! you should thank me, since as a result "Rosenblutt" is still alive and well, perhaps for Puccini himself — but as I told you then and I am telling you now, if Puccini doesn't write the music for "Rosenblutt" another composer will....... just so long as you leave Pozza to sleep in blessed peace, since I see no reason why he should be involved.
I have understood nothing regarding Brüggemann — why should he no longer be doing "Judith"? given that it is, in a word: ethnic!! I don't understand.
Farewell until we meet on 2 January — meanwhile I send my sincere best wishes for the New Year and remind you to believe me always
yours fondly
Tito Ricordi