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,