Chapter VI (7)

.--. Augusz, in his last letter, speaks of fresh proposals on the subject of my settling in Hungary. I answer him, as before, that I am quite disposed to show myself accommodating, devoted, useful, obedient and grateful. The only condition that I make relative to my return to Pest next winter is--a place to live in; for, on the one hand, the modesty of my income forbids me to increase my expenses, and, on the other hand, politeness demands, as it seems to me, that if they seriously want me they will also show me that they do, by sparing me the onerous trouble of having to find a home. On the four occasions on which I have stayed at Pest since 1865 Schwendtner has shown me the utmost and most cordial hospitality. I feel a most true gratitude to him, but should be afraid of showing it ill by taking too great advantage of his kindness to me.

.--. Mme. de Moukhanoft [The cultivated musical friend of Liszt and Wagner, to whom the latter dedicated his "Judenthum in der Musik," whilst Liszt dedicated an Elegic to her memory] writes, "Has Mihalovich received my letter of tender invectives and entreaties to make him come to Weimar?"

It will be difficult to persuade her that walks on the shore at Ostend ought to be preferable to the charm of the talks on the "Goethe Platz," and even at the "Erb-Prinz," which she will again favor with her presence towards the middle of June, I hope. Tausig also promises me to spend a fortnight here.

Mlle. Brandt sang several songs admirably yesterday morning at the "Hofgartnerei" I shall accompany her in yours tomorrow.

Yours in cordial friendship,

F. Liszt

Weimar, May 29th, 1871

Till the end of June address--Weimar.

109. To Marie Lipsius

Dear and kindest Biographer,

Again an excellent suggestion; follow it without hesitation and present us ere long with a pleasantly powerful and characteristic portrait of Tausig. [Liszt's great pupil (born in 1841) had died in Leipzig on the 17th July, 187l.] In what year of the fifties his father brought him to Weimar, I do not now recollect; but I do remember how greatly astonished I was at his extraordinary talent when I first heard him play. The intellectual claws and pinions were already giving signs of mighty power in the youth who was scarcely 14 years of age, and somewhat delicate in appearance. I felt some compunction in undertaking to give him further instruction, determined not to undertake the task, and therefore informed the father that in the case of such a stupendous organisation the wisest plan was to leave it free, independent development without a teacher. However Tausig insisted upon remaining with me. He studied immoderately; as a rule kept very much to himself while in Weimar, and got into various little scrapes in consequence of his quick, ironical humor. I was accused of being over-indulgent with him, and of thus spoiling him; but I really could not have acted otherwise, and I loved him with all my heart. On various occasions when I had to undertake short journeys in connection with the performances of my works he accompanied me; among other places to Dresden, Prague and Vienna. Subsequently he lived in Vienna for some length of time, and got up some concerts there with the view of having some Symphonic Poems performed which he himself conducted--but he was unable to get a proper start. He had to struggle on and to endure many privations before attaining the success he deserved. His brilliant vocation did not become firmly established till a few years ago, in Berlin, Leipzig, etc.

In the spring of '69 I met Tausig in Paris (after the "Tannhauser" scandal), and returned with him to Weimar for the Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Bulow conducted the Faust Symphony by heart (at the rehearsals most accurately mentioning the letters!), and Tausig played the A major Concerto marvellously. Since then I have seen him only twice: last May at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Weimar (where he played Beethoven's E- flat major Concerto) and now...

Countess Krokow could give you the most reliable information about him, and our friend R. Pohl may also be of use to you in your work. As far as I know, no one has understood Tausig's genius, his demoniacally ideal nature, with so quick a perception, so refined and--I might say--with such womanly intuition, as Frau von Moukhanoff (nee Countess Nesselrode). Unfortunately the two letters in which she wrote me full particulars about Tausig are in Rome. Tausig dedicated his two lately published Etudes, Op. 1, to her, and she was ever a highly appreciative and kindly patroness of his. Remember to mention her specially in your delineation of his character.

Of Tausig's publications those chiefly deserving the highest praise are his masterly transcriptions of the Beethoven Quartets, the Toccata and Fugue of Bach (D minor), Schubert's March; the three pieces from "Tristan and Isolde," the pianoforte score of the "Meistersinger," of the Kaisermarsch, the "Nouvelles Soirees de Vienne" and his two last original Etudes. Recommend also, for the good of pianists, and as a very saleable work, an early publication of his very admirable and well-sustained arrangement of Chopin's first Concerto (E Minor).

Accept the expression of my sincere esteem and gratitude.

F. Listz

Schloss Wilhelmsthal, Sunday, July 23rd, 1871.

In the middle of this week I return to Weimar and remain there till the 5th-10th of August.

110. To Franz Servais

Dear Franz,

In spite of the proverb "Every road leads to Rome" I shall not be able to return there by way of Hal this time. Will you give my very affectionate respects to your mother and tell her how much I regret to be unable to be present, except in thought, at the beautiful family fete at the time of the inauguration of the monument to your father, on the 10th September.--Shall you not invite the Prince de Chimay (the present governor of Mons, I believe)? He would have a right there owing to his sincere interest for Art and his very distinguished musical talent.

I am persuaded that Lassen will express in noble music the inspiration of this fete intended to perpetuate the memory of an illustrious and sympathetic artist. But however successful may be his composition, it does not absolve you from yours, which filial affection demands of you and will dictate to you. Write it without delay, and afterwards take advantage of your leisure at Hal to fulfil the praiseworthy programme indicated in your letter:

a. To work hard at the Piano.

b. To help towards your independence by making yourself capable of cutting a good figure as conductor.

c. To venture on the performance of your "Macbeth" sorceries and other of your compositions, with the reservation of not hearing yourself immediately proclaimed king by the sorcerers of criticism.

Shall you make your appearance at the composition competition next year? I invite you to do so.

You know that H. Richter has been appointed conductor to the National Theater of Pest, and will conduct "Lohengrin" there at the end of September. He will find, I trust, honor and satisfaction in more firmly implanting in his country the sublime works of Wagner, and in making the orchestra, the stage and the public profit by the exemplary rules and practices of M. de Bulow at Munich. Needless to say that I shall endeavor to make Richter's task as easy as possible to him.

Count Tyszkiewicz, in passing lately through Weimar, was kind enough to explain to me his new system of musical mathematics, and to show me his tables of figures honored with commendatory letters from Mr. Gevaert and several notabilities. If, by means of his figures and measures, Tysz. succeeds, as you claim for him, in demonstrating that X...is a "pyramid," this will be a more pyramidal glory even than the system.

Next Thursday I go to Eichstatt (Bavaria), where the (German) St. Cecilia Society meets. Its founder and president F. Witt--a much respected ecclesiastic, conductor of the Cathedral, composer and editor of two newspapers of sacred music published by Pustet at Ratisbon--gives evidence of a great capacity and a persevering zeal in endeavoring seriously to improve the uses and customs of Church music, and, by continuous publications, to propagate the old works of repute as well as the new ones of this class that are deserving of recommendation.--A pamphlet by Witt, which appeared in the spring, "uber das Dirigiren der Kirchenmusik" ["about the conducting of Church music"], corrects some grievous errors and furnishes much profitable instruction.

I shall be much obliged if you will send me a printed account of your fete of the 10th September; on that day I shall be in Rome, and shall not return thence till toward the end of October, to settle at Pest for the winter.

Remember me most kindly to your brother Joseph, [The excellent Violoncellist Joseph Servais, who died in 1885 at the age of 35] to Godebski and his wife, and believe, dear Franz, in my steadfast feelings of devoted affection.

F. Liszt

Wilhelmsthal, August 25th, 1871

Address Rome, Santa Francesca Romana, Campo Vaccino.

What are Joseph's and your plans for the winter?

111. To Walter Bache

Dear Mr. Bache,

Your kind remembrance of the 22nd October has given me sincere pleasure, for which I thank you cordially. Please excuse me for not telling you oftener by letter my constant feelings of affection for you; the hindrance of occupations and cares drives me, alas! into an extreme parsimony as regards letter writing with my best friends, but I think that is my only omission towards them. To see M. de Bulow again was a real joy to me. His health is improving, and his prodigious maestria at its height. He is going to make a concert tour this winter in Vienna, Pest, Prague, Berlin, etc., and will come to London in May. I hope that the people there will be able to appreciate his superiority in its entirety. Bulow, more than any contemporary artist, takes the lead in celebrity. He is not only a very great virtuoso and musician, but also a veritable sovereign of music. Mme. Laussot, who has the genius of nobility of the heart, also came to fete me on Sunday. I shall see her again at Florence in a fortnight, on my way to Pest, where, as you know, I am henceforth fixed, by royal and national favor. Whether there or at Weimar, I hope we shall meet again next summer, dear Bache, in perfect harmony.

Your very cordially affectionate and devoted

F. Liszt

Rome, October 25th, 1871

Bravo and thanks for your concert programmes, which I beg you to continue sending me.

112. To Marie Lipsius

Dear Patroness,

To your .--. sketch of Tausig only a single objection could be raised; namely, that you bestow too high praise upon me. Pardon me if I cannot argue about it, and accept my cordial thanks for this new tribute of your generous kindness.

Last Sunday (22nd October) I had the great pleasure of a visit from Bulow. He is going to remain in Florence till the New Year, and he then begins a categorical concert tour in Vienna, Pest, Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, and at the end of April goes to London. His perfect mastery as a virtuoso--in the finest sense of the word--is in its zenith. To him one might apply Dante's words: "A master to those who know."

Again my hearty thanks, and wishing you an increase of La Mara's .--. writings, I remain with much esteem,

Yours very sincerely,

F. Listz

Rome, October 25th, 1871.

In a fortnight's time I travel to Pest.

113. To Breitkopf and Hartel

Dear Sirs,

In order justly to decide the question of plagiarism between Messrs. Altschul and Joseffy, [Both were pupils of Liszt; the former is now in Buda-Pest, the latter in New York.] one would need first of all to compare the manuscripts of the two disputants. Altschul was kind enough last winter to play me his version in thirds and sixths of Chopin's "Valse" (in D-flat major); the other, questionable, version by Joseffy I do not know. If you think it advisable to send me both versions I am quite ready to let you have my opinion on the subject. Meanwhile I will only remark that the multifarious forms of passages in thirds and sixths--upwards, downwards, to the right, to the left, or crossing, split up, etc., etc.--admit of a variety of forms of transcription in thirds and sixths of the Chopin Valse, and hence Herr Joseffy might quite innocently, in his love of sport as a virtuoso, have shot down his own bird even within Herr Altschul's range.

But whether two birds existed must be proved by the "corpus delicti."

With highest esteem I remain, dear sirs,

Most truly yours,

F. Liszt

Buda-Pest, November 22nd, 1871. (Palatingasse 20.)

P.S.--Herewith is my yearly contribution to the "Bach- Gesellschaft."--

Allow me to reply, later on, to your kind inquiry in regard to a pianoforte piece.

114. To Madame A. Rubinstein in St. Petersburg

Madame,

Your talent of observation is as incontestable as your very charming amiability. With a sagacious eye you observed my predilection for the silent "compatriot," apparently rather sombre, but of excellent composition at bottom. [A box of caviare, which Madame Rubinstein had sent to Liszt.] Doubtless the advantages which appertain to it in its own right were peculiarly enhanced by the charm of your salon, where I hope to see it again and often. Meanwhile, since you are good enough to favor me with its uninterrupted company, I beg to assure you that I shall appreciate it even beyond its specific merits, which are moreover very real. Will you be so good as to renew to Rubinstein the expression of my old and admiring friendship, and accept, Madame, the most affectionate thanks and respects of your very devoted servant,

F. Liszt

Pest, Tuesday, January 9th, 1872

115. To Edmund von Mihalovich

Very Dear Friend,

Your new Song "Du bist wie eine Blume" ["Thou'rt like a tender flower"] is most welcome, and you have succeeded perfectly with it. It only remains to add a ninth to this No. 8, so that the volume may contain the number of the Muses. I hope that you will shortly bring me this No. 9 yourself, for we want you at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung (also the ninth), which will be held at Cassel from the 26th to the 30th June. Your "Geisterschiff" figures on the programme of the first concert, and Riedel (our President) will write to you officially to invite you to fill the post of pilot and captain of your "phantom ship," in other words, to conduct the orchestra. At the same concert Volkmann's Overture "Richard III.," Raff's "Waldsymphonie," Rubinstein's Overture to "Faust" and a new Violin Concerto of Raff will be performed. Wilhelmj will play the violin part, and I hope that other soloists of renown will also lend us their assistance. The programme of this year's Tonkunstler-Versammlung contains, besides these, a new old piece of goods--the "Elizabeth;" and an antiquated new one--"The Seven Words of O[ur]. S[aviour]., composed by Schutz at the end of the sixteenth century, and the manuscript of which was recently discovered at Cassel itself.

The "Elizabeth" will be given at Erfurt on the 2nd May, and on the 8th Riedel gives Berlioz's "Requiem" at Leipzig, for the benefit of our "Beethoven Scholarship." It goes without saying that I shall be present at these two performances.

.--. Schuberth has been very ill at New York, and is not yet sufficiently well to set out on his journey. I am expecting him here towards the middle of June: he will come to Cassel, where we will settle the little matter of your manuscripts in five minutes.

Yours in all friendship,

F. Liszt

Weimar, April 18th, 1872

My most affectionate thanks to Count Albert Apponyi for his kind remembrance, with the assurance of my cordial reciprocity.

P.S.--Augusz would give me great pleasure if he would send me a small provision of Hungarian tobacco (to smoke), for my old Weimar friend Grosse, the celebrated Trombonist.

Shall you not go to Bayreuth for the 22nd May? I shall invite you to do so.

116. To Johanna Wenzel

[The lady here addressed was a pupil of Liszt's at the time, and subsequently married Jules Zarembski, and is at present one of the teachers of the pianoforte at the Brussels Conservatoire.]

My Dear Young Lady,

In reply to your friendly lines I beg of you earnestly no longer to think of having the barbarous operation performed upon your fingers; rather all your life long play every octave and chord wrong than commit such a mad attack upon your hands.

With best thanks, I subscribe myself yours respectfully,

F. Liszt

Weimar, June l0th, 1872

117. To Wilhelm von Lenz

Very Honored Friend,

I owe you thanks in the 24 major and minor keys for the remembrance you keep of me, and the ardent style in which you publish it to the world. Your pamphlet ["Die grossen Pianoforte- Virtuosen unsrer Zeit" The Great Pianoforte Players of our Day.] draws down upon itself a capital reproach; it is that you make me out too grand and too fine. I am far from deserving it, and I confess it without any false modesty; but since you have been pleased thus to overwhelm me I can but bow in silence,--and press your hand.

No one possesses less than myself the talent of talking with the pen, and the necessity of receiving more than a hundred letters a month (not counting bills, and the numerous sendings of manuscript or printed works which I have to read) makes correspondence again more than difficult for me. It is all I can do to get through the necessary epistolary work imposed upon me...Moreover the greater part of the things which are easily said is indifferent to me, and those that I wish to say resist ordinary language. On this subject some one well said to me:

"Words seem to me to intercept feeling rather than to express it; and actions, alas! seem to me sometimes like a thick veil thrown over our soul: looks even seem to be trammelled by phantom barriers, and souls which seek one another across the sufferings of life only find one another--such is my belief--in prayer and in music."--

What wit, what sallies and what brilliant sparks in your "Quartet of Pianist Virtuosi!"--Don't let us forget the etymology of the word "Virtuoso," how it comes from the "Cicerone" in Rome--and let us reascend to Chopin, the enchanting aristocrat, the most refined in his magic. Pascal's epigraph, "One must not get one's nourishment from it, but use it as one would an essence," is only appropriate to a certain extent. Let us inhale the essence, and leave it to the druggists to make use of it. You also, I think, exaggerate the influence which the Parisian salons exercised on Chopin. His soul was not in the least affected by them, and his work as an artist remains transparent, marvellous, ethereal, and of an incomparable genius--quite outside the errors of a school and the silly trifling of a salon. He is akin to the angel and the fairy; more than this, he sets in motion the heroic string which has nowhere else vibrated with so much grandeur, passion and fresh energy as in his "Polonaises," which you brilliantly designate as "Pindaric Hymns of Victory."

No need to tell you that I fully share in your admiration and sympathy for Tausig and Henselt. Do you know Wagner's epigraph "Fur Carl Tausig's Grab"?

"Reif sein zum Sterben, Des Lebens zogernd spriessende Frucht Fruh reif sic erwerben, In Lenzes jaherbluhender Flucht--War es dein Loos, war es dein Wagen: Wir mussen dein Loos wie dein Wagen beklagen."

[For Carl Tausig's Grave:--"Ripe for Death's harvest, The fruits of life long tarrying, Full early to pluck them In the fleeting bloom of spring--Was it thy lot, was it thy bourn? Thy lot and thy destiny both must we mourn."]

Allow me to be particularly grateful to you for one very comprehensive expression in your pamphlet (page 4)--"es war thematisch" [it was thematic]--and accept, dear Lenz, the expression of my old and very cordial devotion.

F. Liszt

Weimar, September 20th, 1872

In three weeks I return to Hungary, and shall stay there for the winter. The remainder of my existence will be divided henceforth between Pest and Weimar. When you return to Berlin (in the summer) I invite you to come this way. Are you in touch with the musical young Russia and its very notable leaders--Messrs. Balakireff, Cui, and Rimski-Korsakoff? I have lately read several of their works; they deserve attention, praise and propagation.

118. To Otto Lessmann in Charlottenburg

[Lessmann, a pupil of Bulow's and F. Kiel's, was at one time a teacher in Tausig's School for the Higher Instruction in Pianoforte Playing, and is now well known as editor of the Allgemeine (deutsche) Musikseitung, representing the party of musical progress with energy and success.]

Very Dear Sir and Friend,

My best thanks for presenting me with your admirable edition of Bach's "Preludes." Such works are among the pleasant signs of the musical Present; inasmuch as they will drive away the old jog- trot style of pianoforte playing. Bulow's edition of Beethoven outweighs in the matter of instruction a dozen Conservatoires. And the editions by Kroll and Lebert also deserve praise and ought to be widely circulated; and to your Bach Preludes I wish plentiful successors in the "Suites," "Inventions" and "Variations" (especially the 30 in G major) of grand old Herr Johann Sebastian--of Eisenach.

Allow me also to add that reading over your Songs enables me more and more thoroughly to enjoy them when I hear them--intelligent singers shall be found for them--and accept, dear friend, the expression of my sincere esteem and affection.

F. Liszt

Eisenach, September 26th, 1872

119. To Eduard von Liszt

Horpacs, November 6th, 1872

Dearest Eduard,

My stay here has been somewhat prolonged, and I shall not reach Pest till next Sunday.

Szechenyi's [Count Szechenyi was Austrian ambassador in Berlin up to 1892.] residence here is most decidedly pleasant and convenient, without noise. In the chapel attached to the house, the house-chaplain (a cultured and estimable priest) daily reads Mass. At table an old house-physician, Dr. M., contributes a good deal to the entertainment. Among other amusing things he said one day: "As to the cholera, no one knows anything definite about it yet except myself, for I have fathomed its nature. And its nature consists solely and wholly...of nothing but cholera!"

The day before yesterday we drove with Szechenyi and Mihalovich to Raiding, [Liszt's birthplace.] in less than two hours. A Herr Wittgenstein (probably an Israelite), who lives in Vienna, now rents this Esterhazy estate, and sublets it again. I found no perceptible changes in the house where I was born since my last visit there 24 years ago. The peasants recognised me at once, came to pay me their respects at the inn, and rang the church bell as we drove away.

.--. I wrote to Kahnt from here that he was to send you immediately the 9 "Kirchen-Chorgesange" and my Mass for men's voices ("Editio nova").

The three Patronatsscheine [tickets of membership] for the Nibelung performance in Bayreuth (Bayern. N.B.--The King has commanded that henceforth Baiern [Bavaria] shall be spelt with a y), and your letter to Herr Feustel, please attend to without delay.

All cordial greetings to you and yours--from your faithfully attached

F. Liszt

Augusz I shall meet in Pest-Ofen.

Give Bosendorfer my friendly greetings, and at the same time tell him how I praise the excellent piano upon which I have been practising a little here.

If Zumbusch goes to Vienna, commission him--as we arranged--to make a bust of me in marble and a pedestal for Bosendorfer.

120. To Princess Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein

[Printed by "order" in the Signale, 1873 (after the death of Napoleon), in which form the letter is reproduced here, as the original could not be procured. This letter does not indeed show us Liszt as a far-sighted politician, but simply as a man of noble impulses.]

Pest, January 10th, 1873

Napoleon III. is dead! A great soul, an all-embracing intelligence, experienced in the wisdom of life, a gentle and noble character--with a disastrous fate! He was a bound and gagged Caesar, but still closely related to the Divine Caesar who was the ideal embodiment of earthly power. In the year 1861, when I had a pretty long interview with Napoleon, he said, "Sometimes it seems to me as if I were over a hundred years old." I replied, "You are the century yourself, Sire!"--And, in fact, I honestly believed at the time, and do so still, that Napoleon's reign was the one most in keeping with the requirements and advances of our era. He has set noble examples, and accomplished or undertaken great deeds: amnesties which were more complete under him than under other governments; the protection of the Church in Rome and in other countries; the rejuvenescence of Paris and other great cities in France; the Crimean war and the Italian war; the great Paris Exhibition, and the rise of local exhibitions; the earnest attention paid to the lot and to the interests of the country people, and of the working classes; the generosity and encouragement to scholars and artists,--all these things are historical facts, and are things in which the Emperor took the initiative, and which he carried out in spite of all the difficulties that stood in his way.

These things will not be eclipsed by the misfortunes that befell him, however terrible these may have been, and, on the day of judgment, France will fetch the coffin of Napoleon III. and place it in all honor beside that of Napoleon I. It can be affirmed without adulation that throughout life the Emperor unswervingly practised those great virtues which are in reality one and the same thing and are known by the names of benevolence, goodness, generosity, nobility of mind, love of splendor and munificence. One of the fine traits of his character that he is acknowledged to have possessed, was his never-failing kindheartedness and his deep gratitude towards those persons who had ever done him a service. In all humility and lowliness of spirit I will imitate him in this, and begin with himself by blessing his memory and addressing my prayers for him to the God of Mercy who has so ordered things that nations may-recover from their wounds. .--.

121. To Eduard von Liszt

Dearest Eduard,

Long since you ought to have heard from me...However, I have not been altogether idle, and during the last weeks have been busy blackening some sheets of music paper which you shall see in print and hear me play. Bosendorfer heard some of it last night, and will bring you word about it to Pest. Be good enough to pay Zumbusch a visit, and beg him to have my bust done in good marble, and to have it finished and ready by the 2nd April (Franciscus di Paula). I intend to spend this name-day of mine with you quietly, [This was an established custom of Liszt's for many years, and one to which--even after his cousin's death--he adhered, and spent the day with the family up to the time of his death.] and to take the bust to Bosendorfer "in persona."

I am told that the Gran Mass is to be performed on Easter Sunday in Pressburg. If so, we will go there together to hear it, with your wife, Marie [Eduard von Liszt's daughter, now Baroness Saar in Vienna.] and Franz.

As to the Bayreuth affair, I have already told you what my wish and will is. It must remain thus. .--.

Probably Cosima will be going to Vienna in February.

God's blessing abide with you and yours. Thine, with all my heart,

F. Liszt

Pest, January 13th, 1873

122. To Dr. Emil Thewrewk von Ponor, Professor at the University of Budapest.

[A classical philologist who published a little Hungarian work entitled "Die ungarische Rhythmik," the German edition of which was to be dedicated to Liszt. The two men differed in their opinion respecting the origin of Hungarian music; however, in consequence of Von Ponor's contribution to the subject, Liszt did in the end agree with the proof Von Ponor brought forward--with this reservation, that "the gypsies did bring harmony into Hungarian music," a point which--Ponor thinks--"may readily be conceded."]

Much-Esteemed and Dear Herr Professor,

I regret that my reply to your request about the Elizabeth-motive can only be somewhat unsatisfactory. It was sent to me together with some others--referring to Saint Elizabeth--about 13 years ago, by Mosonyi and Baron Augusz, and the Hungarian text is published in the concluding notice to the score of my Oratorio. A copy of the "Lyra Coelestis" I did not need; probably this (to me unknown) printed work will be readily found here, and is sure to be in the Library of the Martinsberg monastery.

If not inconvenient to you I should be glad to receive the honor of a visit from you; it would interest me greatly to hear of and to become acquainted with your researches concerning Hungarian rhythmic forms.

Meanwhile I thank you warmly for your friendly lines, and for communicating the Volkslied in the 5/4 time:--

[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt]

Yours with much esteem and sincerely,

F. Liszt

Pest, January 14th, 1873

123. To Dr. Franz Witt

January 20th, 1873

Much-Esteemed Friend,

At New Year I sent you a copy of the Stabat Mater by Palestrina "for the lecture arranged by R. Wagner." The inaccuracies and errors of this copy I have carefully corrected, for in such a masterly and exemplary arrangement every iota is of importance. Wagner gave me his manuscript 18 years ago in Zurich, and forgot afterwards where it was. As regards its publication, which is much to be desired, it is not for me to interfere in the matter in any way, and I beg you to come to some understanding with Wagner about it. If he should wish to correct his old manuscript (the paper of which has become rather yellowish) I will gladly place it at his service.

124. To Eduard von Liszt

Dearest Eduard,

Having considered the matter about the certificate of death which Rothschild wished to have, I shall not make use of Belloni in connection with it. If Emile Ollivier were still in Paris it would be his place to procure the certificate. My dear good mother died in his house (Rue St. Guillaume, Faubourg St. Germain) at the beginning of January 1866. He looked after her and took tender care of her for several years; and finally had her body taken to the Church of St. Thomas d'Aquin for the funeral service, and followed it thence to its last resting-place in the cemetery of Montparnasse. This noble conduct and his speech at the grave I cherish in my innermost heart.

Since the winter of 1866 I have never been back in Paris, and my relations with trustworthy persons there are as good as entirely broken off. Hence I yesterday went and got good advice from friend Augusz, and have accepted his proposal, namely, to address a request to Count Alexander Apponyi--son of and Secretary to the Austrian ambassador in Paris--to procure the certificate of death of my mother and to send it to you. Let Rothschild know of this matter, which, let us hope, will soon be satisfactorily settled.

Many thanks for the trouble you are taking about the bust by Zumbusch, and which I very much wish personally to present to Bosendorfer in Vienna as an Easter egg. I know I can rely wholly upon your ever faithful and incomparable readiness to do me a favor.

Allow me one other request, which will cost you only half an hour's time and a visit. The visit is to an extremely interesting, learned and distinguished man--Dr. Ambros, formerly Imperial Solicitor-General in Prague, now professor and referendary to the Officielle Zeitung in Vienna, always an eminent writer on aesthetics, history, the history of music, a polygraphist, composer--in fact, a good friend of mine. Be kind enough to tell him that I am awaiting his answer in the affirmative, respecting a lecture by him on Robert Franz at the extra Soiree arranged in honor of and for the benefit of Robert Franz; Dr. Ambros was at my request respectfully invited by Herr Dunkl ("Firma Roszavolgyi") to give us his assistance. I take part too as pianist, collector and arranger of the Soiree, and hope that Dr. Ambros--who is so specially competent for the task, owing to his eloquent and valuable treatise on Robert Franz--will give us brilliant assistance, and give us a speech there without talking himself out. The warmest welcome and appreciation will await him on all sides. But obtain his kind consent as soon as possible, together with a written yea to Dunkl (Musikverlag Roszavolgyi, Christoph-Platz, Pest).

Heartiest greetings to your wife and children, and au revoir on the 2nd April.

Thine,

F. Liszt

Pest, January 28th, 1873

125. To Eduard von Liszt

My Dearest Friend,

Zumbusch's letter seems to me pretty comforting, and if you would have the kindness to write to him again I hope the bust will reach Vienna by April 1st. Have you asked what it costs? If not do so in your next letter. Of course I do not mean to bargain with Zumbusch (that is a thing I do only in case of dire necessity--and even then am a bad hand at it). We must simply pay what he asks, and leave ourselves to his friendly feelings of moderation, which will not fail...

In spite of all your endeavors and persuasive powers Dr. Ambros is not coming to the Robert Franz Soiree in Pest. He wrote to Dunkl that he is unusually busy in Vienna with urgent affairs connected with the Zeitung--and hence cannot find any time to prepare an address--and besides this is afraid of taking cold on the journey...To all this we can raise no remonstrance, so I must just accept this refusal of Ambros, much as I should have liked a different answer. Some day I will tell you the preliminaries of this business. Last week I received from Freiherr Suttner, President of the Vienna Singakademie and Imperial Chamberlain, an invitation to play a few pianoforte pieces in the concert arranged for Robert Franz's benefit. I replied that an interval of 25 years separated me from my last public appearance as a pianist, andthat I considered it advisable for me to remain within the interval. As I told you last October, it is not my intention to officiate in any way this winter in Vienna.

Herewith I send you an extract from the sitting of the Chamber of the day before yesterday, the result of which is almost as unexpected as it is important. The deputies of the conservative party and of the opposition voted almost unanimously in favor of raising the funds for establishing a new Musik-Akademie. And an unusual honor was conferred upon me on the occasion,--for, although I have never come forward in the matter, it was nevertheless brought forward in my name, and this certainly puts rather a heavy burden upon me. I will endeavor conscientiously to do justice to the honor as well as the burden. For the last couple of days a stupid feverish cold in the head has kept me in bed. Tomorrow, however, I shall be up and about again.

Faithfully thine,

F. Liszt

Pest, February 10th, [1873]

126. To Eduard von Liszt

My Dear Friend,

Bosendorfer brings you tidings of the Robert Franz Soiree of yesterday. [At this soiree Liszt played Beethoven's A-flat major Sonata, Op. 26, No, 4; his own "Soirees de Vienne" (after F. Schubert); Schumann's "Wie aus der Ferne"; and R. Franz's "Lied."] In a fortnight's time I shall have a similar work before me as pianoforte player, at a charity concert which Countess Anna Zichy is patronising. Then follows, further, a matinee of the Liszt-Verein at the Stadtpfarrei [The town parsonage], and the performance of Witt's Mass, of which I undertake the conducting on the 25th March (in the church). At the beginning of April I shall be with you.

Heartfelt greetings to you and yours from your faithful

F. Liszt

[Pest] March 3rd, 1873

127. To Madame Jessie Laussot

Dear, Excellent Friend,

Your ideas are always very wise, practical and noble; I participate in them beforehand, and esteem myself happy to have them communicated to me direct. With regard to Robert Franz's little capital, I presume that his zealous friends have already taken decisive measures; on my return to Weimar (before the end of April) I will learn whether it is possible to carry out your idea...You know that a thousand thalers have been sent from here, the result of a soiree arranged in Franzs honor. Perhaps I shall find an opportunity to send him more soon.--

Walter Bache writes me word of his "Ninth Annual Concert" in London, with my 13th Psalm. Bache behaves "eroicamente" with regard to me, and takes rank in the very small group of my friends who are the most determined to show the public--in spite of the contrary opinion, much believed by influential papers-- that my music is not absolutely void of sense. I should like to make the task of these friends a little easier, and I try not to increase the merit of their devotion by my faults.

Enclosed is the programme of the concert of our friend Mihalovich yesterday evening. "Romeo and Juliet" was encored, and the "Geisterschiff" did not founder. The audience, very aristocratic, was more select than numerous, which is a good sign for our friend. Item the squashing of some learned articles in the papers.

Will you kindly give my grateful acknowledgments to Mr. Hillebrand for his friendly remembrance, and for sending me his new volume on the French? I had read bits of it in the Augsburg Gazette, and shall take a double pleasure in reading the entire work. Hillebrand, like Alexander von Humboldt, has a passionate attachment to France;--I am proud to feel that I am in accord with him also on this point.

The day after tomorrow I shall be in Vienna, and shall spend a fortnight with my near relative and friend Eduard Liszt. After that I return to Weimar, and hope to see you there in the summer. I will write to you in good time about the performance of the Oratorio Christus...

Respectful homage and cordial friendship,

F. Liszt

Pest, March 30th, 1873

128. To Casar Cui

[Russian composer and musical critic.]

Sir,

Pray excuse my delay in thanking you for your very kind letter that Mr. Bessel brought me with the piano score of your Opera William Ratcliff. It is the work of a master who deserves consideration, renown and success, as much for the wealth and originality of the ideas as for the skilful handling of the form. As I am persuaded that all intelligent and honest musicians will be of this opinion, I should like to add to it some assurance on the next performance of your Ratcliff in Germany. It should be done at once at Weimar were I in active function at the theater as in the preceding years (from 1848 to '59); but since my retirement I am not any longer in a position to take definite steps, and must confine myself to recommendations--more often counteracted than followed.

Accept, sir, my sincere thanks, and with every expression of high esteem I am, yours truly,

F. Liszt

Weimar, May, 1873

129. To Franz Servais.

Dear Monsieur Franz,

My best wishes accompany you "into your cage." [This usually means "in durance vile," but the word "cage" is preserved here on account of the context.--Trans.] You do well to put yourself there, and, if the flight of your genius should find itself somewhat trammelled, for the time being, before the tribunal of counterpoint and fugue, it will soar all the more proudly afterwards. I hope you will come out of your cage glorious and crowned; in case of bad luck do not be too much disappointed; more skilful and more valuable men than you and I, dear Franz, have had to have patience, and to have patience yet again. M. de Buffon, when he said "genius is patience," did but make the mistake of an incomplete definition; he took a part for the whole; but that part is absolutely necessary in the practice of Art, as in that of earthly life.

Please remember me very affectionately to your mother; give a shake of the hand to your brother from me,--and depend ever on my devoted and affectionate feelings.

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 5th, 1873

130. To the Canoness Adelheid von Schorn

Dear Excellent One,

My little travelling plans have been upset by a letter from Cosima. I did not stop either at Salzungen (where I had arranged to meet Schuberth) or at Meiningen, and came straight here on Saturday, in accordance with an invitation from Cosima to a little fete of the workpeople of the theater of the Nibelungen.

Many idle and gossiping people everywhere are troubling their heads about this theater, and are asking when and how it will be finished building. Instead of descanting foolishly or maliciously about it (the two things sometimes go together), it would be better to get a "Patronats-Schein" [a receipt of membership], and thus to join in the grandest and most sublime work of art of the century. The glory of having created, written and published it is Wagner's intact; his detractors have only to share the disgrace of having thwarted it and delayed the bringing of it to the full light of day, by performance.--

Next week I go to Schillingsfurst, and towards the middle of August I shall be back at Weimar.

A thousand very cordially affectionate and devoted regards.

F. Liszt

Bayreuth, July 30th, 1873

131. To Eduard von Liszt

Dearest Eduard,

After an absence of 3 weeks I returned here yesterday. I remained first to days in Bayreuth, from August 26th to September 5th, [The dates here ought certainly to be from July 26th to August 5th--as Liszt's letter is dated the 19th of August.] and then the same length of time in Schillingsfurst (with Cardinal Hohenlohe) and at Langenburg (with Prince Hermann Hohenlohe), whither I had the honor of accompanying the Cardinal.

Cosima, Wagner and the five children are in the best of health. The building of the Nibelungen-Theater is progressing famously; if the necessary sum of 300,000 thalers [some 45,000 pounds] of which as yet only about 130,000 have been forthcoming, is got together in time, the performance of the "Festival Drama"--"The Ring of the Nibelung"--is to take place in the summer of '75.

.--. Simultaneously with his theater, Wagner is building a beautiful and exquisitely situated house close to the Hofgarten. The King of Bavaria has given him 20,000 thalers [some 3,000 pounds] for this. Next spring Wagner will take up his abode there.

My intercourse with Cardinal Hohenlohe is always pleasant. He leads a very retired life in Schillingsfurst, receives but few visits and pays only a few, and occupies himself principally in building and arranging a large schoolhouse and an institution for girls under the superintendence of a Benedictine Sisterhood.

Great festivities are being arranged here in honor of the marriage of the Hereditary Grand Duke. On September 6th the entry of the bridal pair, on the 7th a Court concert, on the 8th a Festival-play by Devrient in the theater and a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, etc., etc. I have undertaken to conduct the Symphony and also to play a couple of pianoforte pieces at the Court concert. A second Festival-play, entitled "The Bride's Welcome to the Wartburg," written by Scheffel and set to music by me, is to be given on September 2lSt in the Minnesanger Hall in the Wartburg, where you heard the "Elizabeth" Oratorio.

A few days after this I shall travel to Rome, and remain there 3 or 4 weeks. Before the end of October I shall come to you again for a couple of days before returning to Pest on November 1st.

The dedication-copies of the "Szoszat" and the "Hymnus" for Count Andrassy are not yet ready, it seems. Roszavolgyi (Dunkl) has sent me only a fete ordinary copies of the pianoforte version, and not one of the score. I shall therefore have to wait till November before sending or presenting it to Count Andrassy.

From the Grand Duchess I received 1,000 thalers--but these together with your 500 have all been spent. Be so good as to send me another 300 thalers next week! For my journey to Rome I shall probably, towards the middle of September, again have to ask you for a note of 500 francs. Although I do not go in for any luxuries, money vanishes quickly and readily in my hands.

Heartiest greetings to your wife and children, and au revoir in Vienna at the end of October.

Faithfully thine,

F. Liszt

Weimar, August l0th, 1873

132. To Franz Servais

Dear Victorious One,

Your letter had been travelling several days in Bavaria before it reached me here yesterday morning. I thank you for letting me take an affectionate part in the success you have obtained, and I wish to keep that part throughout your future successes--and even failures. The latter will not do you any great harm, provided that you know how to keep that attachment to work, and that perseverance in noble ideas, which are the chief heirloom of the artist. Lassen tells me that we are shortly to hear your "Tasso" here: my attentive sympathy is wide awake; so fulfil your promise, dear Franz, by coming before the end of this month, and we will talk at our ease at the Hofgartnerei of our aims and plans.

Please give my respects to your mother, and my cordial remembrances to Joseph and Godebski.

Your affectionate and devoted

F. Liszt

Weimar, August 19th, 1873

133. To Walter Bache

Dear Friend,

Often I am behindhand and stop short of thanks with you, but it is certainly not for want of sincere affection and esteem.

Your "9th Annual Concert" has again shown the worth of your talents and the firm constancy of your character. Now in our artistic world character is still more rare than talent.

You nobly unite the two; it is a pleasure to me to acknowledge it, and to count you amongst the most devoted champions of progress and of musical good sense.

At their head, by right of age and capability, walks imperturbably and gloriously Hans de Bulow.

Will you give him the enclosed letter? and believe me ever, dear Bache,

Your very cordially affectionate

F. Liszt

Weimar, August 20th, 1873

134. To Max Erdmannsdorfer, Hofcapellmeister in Sonderhausen

[At present Capellmeister in Bremen; he has rendered good service to the cause of the New-German musical tendency both in Germany and Russia.]

Very Dear Herr Capellmeister,

Your friendly invitation for me to attend the performance of your "Schneewittchen" I am unfortunately unable to accept. Owing to the festivities at the Wartburg it is impossible for me to get away next week. Will you kindly convey to the Princess Elizabeth my regrets as well as my most gracious thanks?

On Sunday, September 28th, I shall have the pleasure of thanking you personally in Sondershausen for arranging and carrying out the extraordinary concert programme. It is my special wish that the two "Faust Episodes" should not be separated--even at the risk of wearying the public for a few minutes with the "Nachtlicher Zug." [Two Episodes from Lenau's Faust (Leipzig, Schuberth).] But this piece does not appear to me altogether so bad...

I beg you again to repeat my sincere praise to the Sondershausen artists who played so admirably here last Monday in the 9th Symphony, and remain, very dear Sir, with marked feelings of esteem,

Yours in all friendship,

F. Liszt

Weimar, September 16th, 1873

Kahnt, Gille, J. Schuberth, Lassen and several other friends of mine are going to attend the Sondershausen concerts on the 28th and 29th September.

The Weimar presentation I will bring you.

135. To Otto Lessmann

Dear Friend,

Best thanks for sending Kiel's "Christus"--a work full of spiritual substance, of noble and fine sentiments, and masterly in execution. Riedel proposes to give a performance of it next winter it Leipzig.

With such a clause as Joachim introduces for the "Novitaten- Concerten"--"that only such composers shall be taken into consideration in the programmes whose renown as artistic representatives of the German nation is established"--Handel, Bach, Mozart, nay even Beethoven, would have come off badly in their life-time!

Whether it is appropriate for the Berlin Hochschule to act in so specially a high and mighty manner remains to be seen. Still it is to be expected that such procedure is likely itself to meet with some other restricting "clauses."

Of the arrangement for 8 hands of the Pastorale and March [From Liszt's Oratorio "Christus."] which I wish to have from you, you will have already heard from Schuberth. Likewise from Kahnt of the couple of pieces from the "Elizabeth."

Au revoir on Sunday, the 28th September, in Sondershausen, where we shall have a curious (sonderliches) Programme. Receive herewith, dear friend, a special invitation, together with the assurance of my friendly attachment.

F. Liszt

Weimar, September 24th, 1873

I shall bring you back your copy of Kiel's Christus to Sondershausen.

136. To Kornel von Abranyi

Dear Valiant Friend,

Your letter, and the printed paper of great fame which accompanies it, recalls to me the saying, "La joie fait peur." [Abranyi, who was the Secretary of the Festival Committee which had been formed for the celebration of Liszt's Artist-Jubilee in November 1873 at Budapest, had in their name invited Liszt to take part in this.] Nevertheless I could not suit myself to the role of a coward; I will therefore endeavor to surmount my fear and to make myself worthy to share with my brave compatriots in the joy they have prepared for me.

I beg you, in your capacity of secretary of the Festival Committee, to present my most grateful thanks, in good Hungarian, to the most illustrious and most reverend President, Monseigneur Haynald, [The Archbishop of Kalocsa, afterwards Cardinal, Liszt's friend of many years. (Being interested in the present collection, he promised to contribute to it the letters addressed to him "by the great artist and noble man." His death unfortunately prevented the fulfilment of his promise, and the Archiepiscopal Chapter of Kalocsa did not accede to the request of the editor to be allowed to have these letters.)] and to the members of the Committee.

Baron Augusz had written me word that he would come here in the middle of September, to be present at the "Festspiel" [Festival Play] at the Wartburg. He shall soon receive news from me from Rome, where I shall arrive on Sunday. Schuberth is sending you the score and the piano score of the "Christ," together with the biographical notices for which you asked me. My cousin Eduard will send you the "postscript" immediately.

Cordial friendship and fruitful collaboration.

F. Liszt

Weimar, October 1st, 1873

Herewith the programmes of the 2 concerts at Sondershausen at which I was present. This afternoon I start for Rome,--and on the 1st November shall be at Pest.

137. To Martha Remmert

[A pupil of Liszt's; became later Kammervirtuosin (court-pianist) in Weimar, and lives now in Berlin.]

Pest, December 27th, 1873

Dear Fraulein,

The best "solution" in reply to the ministerial order lies in your hands. Merely play the first page of Henselt's Concerto and no one will doubt that I am very kindly disposed towards you. And I shall be glad to render you further service in your zeal for study and your ambition as a virtuosa. No matter whether I be in Pest or in Weimar.

In all friendliness yours,

F. Liszt

138. To ?

[Autograph without address or date in the possession of Count Albert Amadei in Vienna.--According to him the letter belongs to the year 1873.]

Very dear Fraulein,

Please reply at once per telegram:--"Please do not come.--Liszt does not need or wish to be heard, as he has no one for whom he must strike up."

Tomorrow evening more by word of mouth.

Sincerely yours,

F. Liszt

Monday

139. To Countess Marie Dunhoff in Vienna

[Sketch of a letter in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.--The addressee, the wife of the German ambassador Von Bulow, lives now in Bucharest.]

[Beginning of January, 1874]

Dear Countess,

You speak to me so eloquently of the merit, talent and superiority of Madame L.B. that I am quite ashamed of not fulfilling her wish subito. But in reality that would be more difficult than she imagines; a "petit morceau de piano" would only be a small part of the matter; the public is a very exacting master, even in its days of favor; the more it gives the more it expects...