5 Giugno 1901
Sempre ho ammirato in te uno squisitissimo ed alto sentimento di delicatezza: ne ho un’altra prova dalla tua lettera di jeri, colla quale mi dai tu stesso notizia di quanto hai deciso per
Tuttavia l’impressione dolorosa che a tutta prima si è destata in me, viene ad essere attenuata da ciò: che precisamente la stessa tua lettera mi dà ora la convinzione che trattasi davvero di un breve ritardo, soltanto - e che il tuo Nerone lo potrò ammirare, e presto - senza più alludere a vent’anni di aspettativa, quantunque più una cosa è desiderata e più le ore sembrano giorni, e questi sembrano mesi. Dunque ti dico: benvenuto Nerone - e tutti i miei dubbi svaniscono.
Quanto ai vent’anni… no, non accetto l’augurio tuo: sono pochi - ancora trenta ne voglio: a me, per vedere l’arte tua sempre più espandersi gloriosa = a te, perché tu faccia sempre più grande il tuo nome.
Relativamente alla tua proposta circa a
Intanto ti auguro di passare qualche giorno in meritato e gradevole riposo - e desideroso di rivederti con nuova lena al poderoso lavoro, ti stringo con cordialissimo affetto la mano
tuo
231.
pp. 493-494
CLET002090
5 June 1901
Dearest Arrigo,
I have always admired your most exquisite and noble sense of delicacy, as proven yet again with your letter from yesterday, in which you inform me regarding what you have decided for Nerone before I knew it from others. I thank you for this, but I must tell you frankly that you are quite mistaken if you believe this is not painful for me!... and very much so! –
Nevertheless, while the impression I first received was painful, it became attenuated by this conviction: that your very same letter tells me we are only dealing with a brief delay – and that I will soon, very soon be able to admire your Nerone – without alluding further to twenty years of waiting, no matter the fact that the more something is desired, the more that the hours seem to be days, and the days months. Therefore I say to you: welcome Nerone – and all of my doubts vanish.
As far as the twenty years are concerned... no, I do not accept your prognosis: they are few indeed, and may thirty more lie ahead – for me, to see your art grow ever more glorious in magnitude; and for you, so that with your art your name may grow ever greater as well.
Relative to your proposal concerning Pogliaghi.... this too comes from your sense of delicacy, but I absolutely will not allow it. Pogliaghi will finish the opera as per our contract, and we’ll leave things to proceed for now just as they are.... As for the future... we can think about that afterward.
Meanwhile, may you pass some days in pleasant and well-deserved repose – and with the hope to see you back at your formidable work with renewed energy, I extend a most cordial and affectionate handshake.
Yours,
Giulio Ricordi