Letters of Franz Liszt Volume I Part 20

Yours most sincerely, F. Liszt

Weymar, May 18th, 1852.

83. To Robert Schumann

[Autograph in the Royal Library in Berlin.]

My very dear Friend,

It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce to you the first performance of "Manfred" for next Sunday, June 13th, and to invite you to come to it. ["Manfred" was put on the stage for the first time by Liszt] I hope that, at this time of year, your Dusseldorf duties will allow of your coming here for a couple of days, and that probably you will bring Clara with you, to whom please remember me very kindly. Should you, however, come alone, I beg that you will stay with me at the Altenburg, where you can make yourself perfectly at home. The last rehearsal is fixed for Friday afternoon; perhaps it would be possible for you to be present at it, which of course would be very agreeable to me.

Your Leipzig friends will see the announcement of this performance in the papers, and I think you will consider it your bounden duty not to be absent from us at this performance.

Wis.h.i.+ng you always from my heart the best spirits for your work, good health, and "every other good that appertains thereto," I remain unalterably

Yours most sincerely, F. Liszt

Weymar, June 8th, 1852.

84. To Robert Schumann

[Autograph in the Royal Library in Berlin.]

My very dear Friend,

I regret extremely that you could not come to the second performance [This might perhaps also be read "first performance."] of your "Manfred," and I believe that you would not have been dissatisfied with the musical preparation and performance of that work (which I count among your greatest successes). The whole impression was a thoroughly n.o.ble, deep, and elevating one, in accordance with my expectations. The part of Manfred was taken by Herr Potsch, who rendered it in a manly and intelligent manner. With regard to the mise-en-scene something might be said; yet it would be unfair not to speak in praise of the merits of the manager, Herr Genast. It seems to me therefore that it would be nice of you to write a friendly line of thanks to Herr Genast, and commission him to compliment Herr Potsch (Manfred) and the rest of the actors from you.

One only remark I will permit myself: the introduction music to the Ahriman chorus (D minor) is too short. Some sixty to a hundred bars of symphony, such as you understand how to write, would have a decidedly good effect there. Think the matter over, and then go fresh to your desk. Ahriman can stand some polyphonic phrases, and this is an occasion where one may rant and rage away quite comfortably.

Shall I send you your ma.n.u.script score back, or will you make me a lovely present of it? I am by no means an autograph-collector, but the score, if you don't require it any longer, would give me pleasure.

A thousand friendly greetings to Clara, and beg your wife to let me soon hear something of you.

In truest esteem and friends.h.i.+p,

Yours ever,

F. Liszt

Weymar, June 26th, 1852

85. To Peter Cornelius

[The exquisite poet-composer of the operas "The Barber of Baghdad," "The Cid," and "Gunlod," which have at last attained due recognition (1824-74).]

Weymar, September 4th, 1852

It has been a great pleasure to me, my dear Mr. Cornelius, to make the acquaintance of your brother, and I only regret that he pa.s.sed several days here without letting me know of his stay.

Your letter, which reached me through him, has given me a real pleasure, for which I thank you very affectionately. Short though our acquaintance has been, I am pleased to think that it has been long enough to establish between us a tie which years will strengthen without changing the natural and reciprocal charm. I congratulate you very sincerely in having put the fine season to so good a use by finis.h.i.+ng the church compositions you had planned. That is an admirable field for you, and I strongly advise you not to give in till you have explored it with love and valor for several years. I think that, both by the elevation and the depth of your ideas, the tenderness of your feelings, and your deep studies, you are eminently fitted to excel in the religious style, and to accomplish its transformation so far as is nowadays required by our intelligence being more awake and our hearts more astir than at former periods. You have only to a.s.similate Palestrina and Bach--then let your heart speak, and you will be able to say with the prophet, "I speak, for I believe; and I know that our G.o.d liveth eternally."

We spoke with your brother about your vocation for composing religious--Catholic music. He enters thoroughly into this idea, and will give you help to realize it under outer conditions favorable to you. Munster, Cologne, and Breslau appeared to us to be the three places for the present where you would find the least obstacles in the way of establis.h.i.+ng your reputation and making a position. But before you go to the Rhine I hope you will do me the pleasure of coming to see me here. The room adjoining that which Mr. de Bulow occupies is entirely at your service, and it will be a pleasure to me if you will settle yourself there without any ceremony, and will come and dine regularly with us like an inhabitant of the Altenburg. The theatrical season recommences on Sunday next, September 12th, with Verdi's "Ernani." In the early days of October (at the latest) "Lohengrin" will be given again; and on the 12th of November I expect a visit from Berlioz, who will spend a week at Weymar.

Then we shall have "Cellini," the Symphony of Romeo and Juliet, and some pieces from the Faust Symphony.

Kindest regards from yours ever,

F. Liszt

86. To Clara Schumann

Weymar, September 11th, 1852.

It is not without regret that I obey your wish, Madame, in returning to you the autograph score of "Manfred," for I confess that I had flattered myself a little in petto that Robert would leave it with me in virtue of possession in a friendly manner.

Our theater possesses an exact copy, which will serve us for subsequent performances of "Manfred;" I was tempted to send you this copy, which, for revision of proofs, would be sufficient, but I know not what scruple of honor kept me from doing so.

Perhaps you will find that it is possible generously to encourage my slightly wavering virtue, and in that case you will have no trouble in guessing what would be to me a precious reward...

How is Robert's health? Have the sea baths done him good? I hope he will soon be restored all right to his home circle--and to his composing desk.--

It would have been very pleasant to me to renew our visit of last year to you at Dusseldorf, and I was indeed touched by the gracious remembrance of it which your letter gives me; but, alas!

an unfortunate accident which has happened to my mother, by which she nearly broke her leg in coming downstairs, has obliged her to keep her bed for more than nine weeks, and even now she can only walk with the help of crutches, and it will be some months before she is all right again.

Forced as she was to remain at Weymar, I have not liked to leave her all this summer, and had to give up the pleasure of a holiday excursion.--The Princess Wittgenstein, and her daughter (who has become a tall and charming young girl), desire me to give their very affectionate remembrances to you and Robert, to which 1 add my most sincere wishes for the speedy restoration of our friend, and cordial a.s.surances of my constant friends.h.i.+p.

F. Liszt

87. To Carl Czerny

[Autograph in the archives of the Musik-Verein in Vienna. The date is wanting; it may be placed, judging from Liszt's letter of October 30th, 1852, at the above-mentioned date.]

[September or October, 1852]

My Dear, Honored Master And Friend,

Permit me to recommend particularly to you Professor Jahn [The afterwards celebrated biographer of Mozart], with whose many interesting works of criticism and musical literature you are doubtless familiar (among others his Introduction to the original score of Beethoven's "Leonora," published by Hartel in Leipzig).

Mr. Jahn's object in going to Vienna is to collect doc.u.ments for a biography of Beethoven, which will, I am persuaded, supply a want so much felt hitherto by the public and by artists. May I beg you--in honor of the great man whom you have had the merit of comprehending and admiring, long before the common herd joined in chorus around his name--to open the treasures of your reminiscences and knowledge to Mr. Jahn, and accept beforehand my sincere thanks for the good service you will render to Art in this matter?

It is with unchangeable attachment that I remain, dear master, your very grateful and devoted

F. Liszt