2.7

pp. 17-20

CLET001751

30 August 1902

Dearest Illica,

   I received your letter, which I cannot honestly say was what I would have preferred to read.

   You should know first off that while my health had been excellent since around the end of the treatment I received in Schöneck, it is now in a rather unfortunate state, which worries me considerably in light of what I have suffered for so long, anymore it’s been two years. Therefore I am nervous and irritable to the extreme – and your letter did nothing to calm me down.

   What Maestro Franchetti told you is so outrageous that I am absolutely indignant! – And to think that I acted contrary to my convictions, contrary to the sound and healthy rules of my administration, all to please Signor Franchetti, whose financial muddle is of no importance to me!... I am neither a banker nor still less a loan shark!!... and had my Administrative Board not authorized me, indeed convinced me to act out of friendship toward the Barone Maestro, I would have sent his debts, his deadlines, his promissory notes to the devil! – and I see that I would have done well. There’s still more: that in concluding his contract for a new opera, I accorded Barone Franchetti a figure that was slightly more than he himself had mentioned. After all this, after his repeated thanks, to hear of humiliation, of being strung up to hang, is revolting and makes me want to exclaim: This is a disgrace!! – and enough of it.

Let’s get to our own affairs – without seconds, however.   Whenever we’ve passed some time without seeing one another, there’s always the sensation that something has gone amiss! – Why?... Is it due to your active imagination as you work, or the work of your imagination that tends to enjoy toying with Don Basilian [defamatory] inferences?...

   What harm was there in my having told you that I thought Franchetti wanted a collaboratively produced libretto?... He continually referred to Bohème, Tosca, Butterfly, Giacosa, etc. etc., and his intentions were clear. I repeat, why was it wrong to have told you?.... In France this kind of collaboration is nearly always done. I understand that you prefer to be unum [just one]!... but between not doing a libretto and doing one jointly, I prefer the second system. In financial terms, it’s always income: your compensation will be fixed at a slightly lesser percentage, but one that is nonetheless to your advantage. You tell me you’re 45 years old!!... good gracious, you are a babe in arms compared to me!... But the years pass quickly, dear Illica! – and you should prepare for a comfortable future so that you can spend your last ones well and independently, since it’s true that they may seem short but they are also the most unreliable and lonely! – I understand that your personal feelings are at the heart of this issue!... and in that case the positive reasons mean very little to you. But in the end..... this libretto has to be written.... Who will do it? certainly not I. But there is still something else.... and this something astonishes me even more. Is it true that you don’t even want to write the libretto for Mascheroni?... Why?... What happened?... this has nothing to do with a collaborator!... But what about... Claretie?  Are you aware that you are putting me in an embarrassing and dangerous position?... How?... Everything is arranged – all of the details fall neatly into place – Claretie writes you a stupendous letter – and then suddenly you declare that you don’t want to do it, be it Principe or Zilah! I ask again: What happened?... Disagreements?... bones of contention?... misinterpretations?

   In sum, I’ll conclude this way, and it will be the best conclusion possible:

   When will we see each other?...

Be advised however that I’m going to Varese for two or three days, in the attempt to sharpen my considerably blunted wits after all these barbs of battle.

   Until we meet then – and meanwhile my cordial greetings to you and your wife, both of whom I hope are in the best of health.

Most warmly,

Giulio Ricordi