Paul Draneht to Giovanni Bottesini (Cairo, 12 Apr 1871)

Dear Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of the 10 th and to confirm my own of yesterday, wich read: "Unfortunately cannot give positive answer before arrival Italy. Letter follows". M. Martini, who has served us as an intermediary in this situation, knew that I was negotiating with another person while he was addresing himself to you. I suppose he did not allow you to ignore this. Until now I have not been able to conclude anything with this person because of this relationship to another artist whom I am also trying to engage. These two persons do not want to come without each other, and I cannot settle this question before my trip to Italy, which will be very soon. If it were not for this situation, I would be eager to conclude an agreement with you. [...]

Source: Hans Busch, Verdi's Aida, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1978, Letters 151

Published in: Inzaghi: Giovanni Bottesini p130, carteggio 69