Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: From Rome to the End

F >> Franz Liszt; letters collected by La Mara and translated >> Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: From Rome to the End

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176. To Walter Bache

Highly Esteemed and Dear Friend,

Hearty thanks for your kindly remembrance of the 22nd October.

With regard to the "Elizabeth" performance (at your "Twelfth
Annual Concert" on the 24th February) I am somewhat anxious on
account of the great exertions and expense which the performance
will entail upon you. Still I will not make any further objection
to your characteristically firm incorrigibleness in your
steadfast wish and endeavor to do the utmost possible for the
good of your old friend, now 64 years of age.

To Frau Blume (whom I often called upon in Rome) please give my
friendliest remembrances. If the part of Elizabeth does not
displease her she is certain to give an excellent interpretation
of it.

I am most glad to grant friend Banz the permission he desires,
and am grateful to him for his kindly sentiments.

Till the middle of February I shall stay here--and then go direct
to Budapest--and remain your faithfully attached

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, October 26th, 1875.

In case you receive direct news of Von Bulow, please let me know.

177. To Eduard von Liszt

Most Dear Friend,

Your letters are as full of heart as they are of mind. They both
comfort and exalt me. My prayers always include you. May the
"Supreme Spirit" strengthen us!

For me to appear at the opening of the Musik-Akademie in Pest on
November 7th, is, I think, neither necessary nor desirable. It
will be better that the undertaking (the official part of which I
did not call into existence!) should be more fully started before
I take any part in it. Hence till the middle of February I remain
at the Villa d'Este (quietly finishing a few compositions) and
then return direct to Pest.

Herbeck is said to have promised to conduct a concert there. I
trust we may meet in friendship on the "Fischplatz" during Lent.
How could he manage to have the Gran Mass performed in the
Burgkapelle? The dimensions of the work require rather a goodly
amount of space for chorus and orchestra...Next summer it is
proposed to give a grand concert-performance of the Gran Mass in
Dusseldorf (where they have a splendid hall, admirably adapted
for musical festivals). I shall look for your report of the
Vienna performance.

As regards the "Prometheus," I beg you to fix with Her-beck that
in Vienna the new improved edition, published by Kahnt (Leipzig),
shall be used, and get him to procure it from Kahnt: pianoforte
score, full score, and voice parts. If Herbeck should entertain
any doubt about the new edition on account of the expense, I
shall be quite ready to settle the small "difference" with a few
gulden, which you will advance me for the purpose. [Eduard von
Liszt managed Liszt's money affairs for him.]

I am very anxious that this "Prometheus"--who is ready to
"unchain" himself next summer in Dusseldorf and at the Musical
Festival at Altenburg--should not again be a failure in Vienna,
after his late want of success there.--

Give Kulke my best thanks for his excellent essay with its kindly
sentiments (in the Vaterland of September 17th); I am specially
pleased with the close: "In the same way as Sebastian Bach could
not conceive a musical thought in any other way than from a
contrapuntal point of view, Liszt cannot conceive a theme in any
other way than from a thematic point of view," etc.

Heartiest greetings to all your circle: Marie will always prove
herself noble and firm.

Your faithfully attached

F.L.

(Villa d'Este) October 31st, 1875

178. To Madame Jessie Laussot

Very Dear and Kind Friend,

Although I scarcely know how sufficiently to express my gratitude
to you for all the proofs of friendship you have constantly shown
me during twenty years, I am quite convinced that no
misunderstanding would ever be possible between us. You know my
good intentions from the outset, and in case of necessity you
divine them with the heart's most penetrating and delicate
intelligence.

I add to my thanks for your last letter a request which you will
certainly grant, by assuring our very honored friend Hillebrand
of my sincere devotedness. In addition, assure him also that my
zeal in serving my gracious master, the Grand Duke of Saxony,
will never be used to the detriment of any one, and that I
especially take into consideration the proprieties appropriate to
the merits and position of individualities that I esteem and
love.

So then we will discuss "academicamente," at your house in
Florence (after my return from Hungary, towards the middle of
February), the subject of Hillebrand's spending some months each
year at Weimar.

This could be brought about under reciprocally pleasant
conditions; I confess that I take a rather egotistical interest
in it...but without failing in the duties of friendship.

In a week's time, Mdlle. Adelheid de Schorn accompanies her aunt-
-"the Lady Abbess von Stein"-- back to Germany. She will bring
you two or three books of music from me.

Sgambati has finished a second, very remarkable Quintet (for
Piano and Strings), which will soon be heard in Rome.

Zarembski (whom I introduced to you) works valiantly, and
deserves to be reckoned as an unusually excellent pianist of the
first rank.

A revoir in February, and yours very devotedly,

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, November 17th, 1875

If you should see the Jaells before their concerts in Rome, give
them my most affectionate remembrances.

179. To Eduard von Liszt

My Honored Friend,

What you felt at the performance of the Gran Mass has extremely
rejoiced me. "He who loves understands."

Give Herbeck my warmest thanks for the carefulness of the
rehearsals and performance of this work, about which I allowed
myself to make the remark (in Paris 1866), to a personage of the
very highest rank, that "it had been more criticised than heard."

On no account would I press Herbeck to give a performance of the
"Prometheus-choruses"; according to my thinking, it would be
better to wait and see how these choruses are done next spring in
Dusseldorf and at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Altenburg before
bringing them back to Vienna. I should also like to be present at
the Vienna performance, which will not be possible tha's winter.
I shall probably only be able to stay one day with you (at the
beginning of April). I almost doubt whether the "Hunnenschlacht"
could be performed amongst the "Philharmoniker" [lovers of
harmony] without defeat to me. Nevertheless, "vincit qui
patitur."

Heartiest greetings to our Franz, who will prove himself worthy
of you.

Most faithfully thy

F. Liszt

(Villa d'Este, Tivoli) November 26th, 1875

.--. As I already told you, I shall remain here till the middle
of February, and then return direct to Budapest. From next April
I am threatened with much travelling about. My threefold
domicile, Pest, Weimar and Villa d'Este, and all that is
connected with it, makes my life very onerous. Even the well-
known consolation, "Tu l'as voulu, Georges Dandin" [it is your
own doing], fails me...Still there is hope in the proclamation
"Et in terra pax, hominibus bonae voluntatis."

Once more thanks for your kind intercession in my friend Vincenz
Kirchmayer's [Liszt's former travelling companion in Spain and
Portugal during the forties, and especially recommended by Liszt
to his cousin Eduard.] affairs. When the decision has been given
let me know it.

180. To Hans Schmitt, Professor at the Conservatorium of Music in
Vienna

[Well known as an excellent teacher of the pianoforte, also as a
writer on music]

[End of 1875]

My Dear Sir,

It is well known how much mischief is done to the piano both with
hands and feet. May your instructive pamphlet on the right use of
the pedal duly benefit pianoforte players. [Footnote: "The Pedal
of the Piano." Vienna, Doblinger (3rd ed. 1892).] With best
thanks for sending me the pamphlet, I remain

Yours respectfully,

F. Liszt

181. To Kornel von Abranyi

Dear Honored Friend,

In the affairs of the Academy of Music I had till now simply to
wait. [The opening of the Academy of Music had taken place
meanwhile in the middle of November, 1875.] Now comes the time
when a different, an active line of conduct presents itself to
me. I shall always endeavor to come up to the expectations of my
friends. First of all in the middle of February we begin our
peaceful academical conferences, and, as I have already written
to you, I willingly undertake, from the 1st March, to conduct a
pianoforte class (for virtuosi and teachers)--provided that Erkel
and you, dear friend, agree to this harmless proposal. My further
activity in the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music had better be
favored, measured and decided by the circumstances. I can only
lay claim to be the well-intentioned zealous servant of Art and
of Hungary.

Please to give Erkel my heartiest thanks for the Liszt-paragraph
in the "Inaugural Address." The kindly confidence which Erkel has
reposed in me for more than 30 years shall never be abused.

The notice "Count Geza Zichy, President, and Bartay, Director of
the Pest Conservatorium," affects me very pleasantly. Engesser's
constancy in conducting the Liszt-Verein [Engesser founded the
Liszt-Verein in Pest (for mixed voices)] particularly rejoices
me. Is Gobbi's Cantata come out? Friendly greetings to the
composer and recently "well-known composer of album-leaf
waltzes," from your old, truly attached

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, January 20th, 1876

(Before my arrival--16th February--I will telegraph to you from
Venice, where I shall visit Count Imre Szechenyi.) In case there
were anything to write to me, address, till February 5th, Rome,
Vicolo dei Greci, 43.

182. To Eduard von Liszt

(Villa d'Este,) January 23rd, 1876

My Dear Beloved Friend,

Your letter has deeply affected me. I preserve it in the secret
cell of the heart, where the last words of my dear mother remain-
-and give me consolation. I cannot thank you in words. My thanks
rise in prayer to God. May His blessing ever be with your
generosity and constancy in all that is good.

At the "Decisions of the Court of Cassation" (the 2nd October and
16th November) you spoke so forcibly and beautifully clearly
about blasphemy, and of the symbol of redemption, the crucifix--
and thus truly fulfilled the teaching of our Savior:
"Thesaurizate autem vobis thesauros in Coelo." Let us continue to
the end, dearest Eduard, in the love of Christ!

I absolutely wrote the "Hunnenschlacht" for the sake of the hymn
"Crux fidelis." Kulke in a very generous manner determined on the
production of this work in Vienna. For very many years Kulke has
always been well-affected towards me. I enclose a few lines of
thanks which I beg you to hand to him. His "Moses before Pharaoh"
I have, alas, not the power to compose. To compose philosophy and
politics in music appears to me an all-too-difficult task. I
almost doubt whether it could be accomplished.

Heartiest greetings to your family, and most truly yours,

F. Liszt

I shall arrive in Pest again in the middle of February.

183. To Dr. Eduard Kulke in Vienna

My Dear Sir,

During long years you have constantly shown me so much kindness
that I cannot sufficiently thank you for it. I am also ashamed
not to compose better works, so as to make the kindly
interpretation of them more easy and pleasanter to you.
Nevertheless all the more valuable is your insight and
indulgence.

The "feathered thief" [A comedy by the addressee, a well-known
and meritorious author, and sent by him shortly before to Liszt.]
reconciles me with the "newspaper geese." It will, without
plagiarism, win its laurels on the stage. The dialogue and action
are full of humor and wit...and the final catastrophe of the
thrashing must make an impression on the public.--

Excuse me, my dear Sir, if I do not feel myself equal to the task
of an Old-Testament Oratorio. [Kulke had sent a poem, "Moses
before Pharaoh," to Liszt in Rome, with the question whether he
would be inclined to make it the subject of an Oratorio.] Michael
Angelo represented his Moses mighty and horned (perhaps as a most
excellent ideal forerunner of Pope Julius II.?); Rossini sang
exquisitely the "preghiera di Mose," with which Europe is still
enraptured; and Marx's Oratorio Moses, less well-known, contains
many excellent parts.

"Non omnia possumus omnes." My humble self can do but little, and
remains most humbly grateful to the "Caritas Christi."

With especial regards and thanks, yours most truly,

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, January 23rd, 1876

184. To Marie Lipsius

My Honored Patroness,

Your kind promise to translate the "Chopin" into beautiful German
rejoices me extremely. Hearty thanks for it. I will soon send the
revised (French) copy, and I hope the work will be easy and
pleasant to you. In the 3rd edition of "Musikalische
Studienkopfe" I lately read "Berlioz"--an excellent
characterisation and recognition of this extraordinarily great
master, who perhaps hovers more in the untrodden regions of
genius than anywhere else.

The addition of the "index" is a valuable completion of this
third edition. Its success augurs well for what will follow.

With much respect and gratitude,

F. Liszt

(Villa d'Este,) February 3rd, 1876

185. To August von Trefort, The Hungarian Minister of Education
in Budapest

[Printed in the Pester Lloyd of that date.--Addressee died 1888.]

Herr Minister,

Although I scruple to weary the extraordinary good-will which the
public of Budapest has evinced towards me, I nevertheless make so
bold as to offer the assistance of my two hands for the concert
shortly to be given in aid of the sufferers by the floods, if
Your Excellency is of opinion that this could still be at all
useful. In the year 1838, when I returned for the first time to
Vienna, I gave my first concert there in aid of the sufferers by
the inundation at Pest. It will be a comfort to me if I can now
close my protracted career as virtuoso by the fulfilment of a
similar duty. [The concert in aid of the sufferers by the floods
in Budapest took place with Liszt's co-operation on the 13th
March, 1876] I remain, until death, Hungary's true and grateful
son.

Your Excellency's most obedient

F. Liszt

Budapest, March 1st, 1876

186. To Walter Bache

Honored and Dear Friend,

You, in your London "Annual Concerts," have for 12 years worked
more wonders than I was able to compose in the "Rosenwunder"
[Rose miracle] of Elizabeth. Hearty thanks for your account of
the 12th concert, and all the exertions connected with it! I beg
you to present my most respectful compliments to Mrs. Osgood
("Elizabeth"), and, before all, to Constance Bache, the kind
translator of the Legend.

Entirely approving of the use of the mute in the passage

[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt]

and during the chorus of angels, remains, in sincere esteem for
the steadfast conductor and friend Walter Bache, his faithful and
grateful

F. Liszt

Budapest, March 8th, 1876

187. To Madame Jessie Laussot,

Dear excellent Friend,

The Commander Casamorata has written to me again about the fete
of Bartolomeo Cristofori. I have replied to him that my answer
had been already received by you in the month of January '75, and
that I can only repeat the same excuses. I copy the last lines of
my letter to Casamorata that you may have the exact particulars:-
-

"Without reckoning that for more than thirty years I have not
belonged to the active lists of pianists and only desire the
honorable repose of an invalid, I permit myself to remark that
the duty of celebrating the inventor of the pianoforte in Italy
belongs by preference to Italian pianists of note, such as M.
Buonamici (in Florence) and M. Sgambati (in Rome), etc."--

In conclusion, I scarcely could leave Germany all this summer
(except for the visit to the Chateau de Loo), and I shall
probably be obliged to return to Hungary after Bayreuth, where I
hope still to find you.

Yours very devotedly,

F. Liszt

Budapest, March 18th, 1876

188. To Dr. Leopold Damrosch in New York

[Draft of a letter from a copy by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.--Addressee
(1832-1885) came to Weimar in 1855 as a violinist under Liszt,
went to Breslau in 1858, and in 1871 to New York, where he had
great success and influence as a conductor.]

April 15th, 1876

My dear honored Friend,

You have recommended our young friend Max Pinner to me. He shows
himself to be an excellent artist, and I have become much
attached to him [Pinner died young.] I beg you to accept through
him the renewed expression of my former faithful friendship.

Your beautifully conceived and nobly executed work "Ruth" I have
read with sympathetic interest and pleasure. I will not fail to
suggest its performance in Germany.

How shall I thank you for the edifying goodwill which you
manifest towards my compositions? Your intelligent enthusiastic
conducting of my scores prevents any one noticing the defects of
the composition.

A hearty greeting to your wife, and with warmest esteem ever
yours,

F. Liszt

189. To Friedrich von Bodenstedt

[From a copy by Director Aug. Gollerich in Nurnberg.--Addressee,
who died in April 1892, the poet of Mirza Schaffy]

June 8th, 1876

My very honored Friend,

Your very agreeable and genial friend, Frau Major von L., sends
the September leaflet about the concert in Hanover. A thousand
thanks for it. .--.

On the occasion of my happy 50 years' jubilee you rejoiced me
with a poem, of which Iam proud. You have admirably succeeded in
coaxing such poetical euphony from an old worn-out instrument
like my humble self.

Au revoir in Hanover, and friendly greetings to your family.

With thanks, yours sincerely,

F. Liszt

190. To the Music Publisher Bessel

Sir,

Although the music which you have been so obliging as to send me
through Mr. Kahnt has not yet reached me, I hasten to assure you
again of the strong interest which I take in the works of the new
Russian composers--Rimski-Korsakoff, Cui, Tschaikowski,
Balakireff, Borodine--which you edit. You know that lately, at
the Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Altenburg, the Ballade "Sadko" was
well performed and received. Next year I shall propose that other
works of the above-named Russian composers be produced. They are
worth serious attention in musical Europe.

When you return to Weimar in July I shall better express to you
my thanks and regards.

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 20th, 1876

Kindly give the accompanying note to Mr. Cui.

191. To Prince Carl Lichnowsky

[Communicated to the Musical Chronicle, 20th February, 1888, by
A. Gollerich.--Addressee is the brother of Liszt's intimate
friend, Prince Felix Lichnowsky, who, as a member of the
Parliament of Frankfort, fell on the Heath at Bornheim
(Bornheimer Haide), a sacrifice to the Revolution of 1848.]

Your most Serene Highness and Friend,

In old attachment I thank you heartily for your kind lines. The
most grateful recollections ever bind me to the House of
Lichnowsky. Your highly endowed father and your admirable brother
Feliz showed not less kindness to me, than Prince Carl Lichnowsky
showed before that to the young Beethoven, who dedicated his Opus
I. (3 Trios) to the Prince Lichnowsky, and felt himself quite at
home in the so-called Krzizanowitz "Palace," and in the Castle of
Gratz. [Krzizanowitz is Lichnowsky's inherited estate in Prussian
Silesia, the Castle of Gratz his dominion in Austrian Silesia.
Franz Liszt like Beethoven, was a guest in both these places.]
May it be permitted, dear Prince, to find you again there
(perhaps next year) to

Your faithful and most devoted

F. Liszt

June 21st, 1876

192. To Hofcapellmeister Max Erdmannsdorfer

Very honored Friend,

Thanking you very much for your kind invitation, I shall
willingly come next Sunday, and rejoice that I shall again hear a
special Sondershausen concert. Berlioz's "Harold-Symphony" is to
me an old, ever-fresh recollection: the Sondershausen orchestra
played it capitally at the first Festival of the "Music of the
Future" in Ballenstedt, which I conducted.

Send me soon the whole printed programme. Can you already conduct
Wagner's new "Fest Marsch?"

I beg for Bulow's "Nirwana," if possible, and in case there
should be room for anything, not long, of mine, I would most
modestly suggest the Symphonic Poem "Hamlet," which I never
heard. Most friendly greetings to your wife, and believe me
always

Yours most sincerely,

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 27th, 1876

I suppose the concert takes place on Sunday afternoon, so that
the visitors from Weimar can get back here again?

Which train, in the lately altered railway guide--as I was told
yesterday--will bring me in tempo (non rubato) [in time--not
broken] to Sondershausen and back?--

193. To Kornel von Abranyi

Dear honored Friend,

Best thanks for your letter. Please to make my apologies to the
mayor Herr Karoly and to the Festival Committee in Szegedin. [The
town of Szegedin and the Hungarian Vocal Society had begged
Liszt's active sympathy for the Musical and Singers' Festival
about to be held in that place. Karl Wagner was president of the
Festival Committee.] With reference to the first invitation to
Szegedin (last March) I made the observation immediately that
"During the whole month of August I belong to Bayreuth."
Consequently it is no fault to remain there,--if the principle is
correct.

Now, dear faithful friend, I invite you once again to come
hither. The "Festival-Play" is of the very most serious
historical significance...So do come at the latest from the 27th
till the 30th August for the third series of these stupendous
performances of the "Nibelung's Ring." The Montecuculi-an matters
will be gladly arranged for you here [i.e. the expenses.] by

Your old, most sincerely faithful

F. Liszt

Bayreuth, August 6th, 1876

194. To Richard Wagner

[Autograph of this curiosity in possession of Herrn
Commerzienrath Bosendorfer in Vienna.]

Incredible One,

Hast thou a moment's time for the Leipzig "affaire"? then please
come down here (where Herr Neumann now is) to thine own

F. L.

[Bayreuth, August, 1876]

[This referred to the performance of the "Nibelungen" in Leipzig,
striven for by Angelo Neumann and interceded for by Liszt, for
which purpose the former came to Bayreuth.--Wagner wrote in
pencil on Liszt's letter as follows:--

"Still more incredible One!

"I am in my shirt-sleeves and under no circumstances inclined to
give my work to Leipzig or anywhere else!

"Love me!

Thy

R. W."]

195. To the Kammersangerin [Private Concert Singer to the Court]
Marie Breidenstein in Erfurt

[Died 1892. She dedicated herself with satisfaction to the
rendering of Liszt's compositions, and was also his pupil for
piano.]

Dear honored One,

Perhaps the Schubert songs with my most modest instrumentation
would suit somewhere in your programme. Here are the printed
scores with the orchestral parts. "Gretchen" and "Erlkonig" have
been much used and are played out. This is not so much the case
with the "Young Nun"; and Mignon's wonderful song, "So lasst mich
scheinen bis ich werde" [So let me seem till I become], is
scarcely heard--or appreciated!

But if you will once more spare me an hour in Weimar, I will
accompany these 4 instrumented Schubert-Songs for you.

Next Saturday departs from here

Your sincerely devoted

F. Liszt

Weimer, Monday, September 18th, 1876

N.B.--The instrumentation compelled me to a few little different
readings in Schubert's four songs: on this account the singer
must go by my score-edition as regards the rests and the very
slight alterations.

196. To Camille Saint-Saens

Very Dear Friend

In sending you today the transcription of your "Danse macabre," I
beg you to excuse my unskilfulness in reducing the marvellous
coloring of the score to the possibilities of the piano. No one
is bound by the impossible. To play an orchestra on the piano is
not yet given to any one. Nevertheless we must always stretch
towards the deal across all the more or less dogged and
insufficient forms. It seems to me that Life and Art are only
good for that.

In sincere admiration and friendship,

Your very devoted

F. Liszt

Hanover, October 2nd, 1876

197. To Professor L. A. Zellner, General Secretary of the
Conservatoire of Music in Vienna

[From a copy of a draft by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.]

October 3lSt, 1876

Honored Friend,

Be so very kind as to convey my sincere thanks to Directors
Mosenthal and Herbeck for the friendly communication about the
Beethoven-Monument Concerts in Vienna next March. A few weeks
earlier I beg you to send me the programmes, to which Beethoven's
Concerto in E-flat major, and also as a Finale, in case the
"Hammerclavier" appears admissible, the "Choral Fantasia," will
willingly be added with his old hands by

Your faithful and most obedient

F. Liszt

198. To Hans Richter, Conductor of the Royal Opera in Vienna

[From a copy by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.-Addressee (born 1843 in
Hungary) the renowned conductor, since 1876, of the Bayreuth
Festspiel, and, in addition to his opera work in Vienna,
conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts there and of the Richter-
Concerts in London.]

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