Letters of Franz Liszt Volume I Part 60

Have I ever told you how excellent the latter, which you had chosen just right, tasted?

It is almost impossible to further B.'s affairs. You think it would be right to let his drama be examined by a "competent authority." Undoubtedly; but that will not help him, so long as this competent authority, who here could be none other than Dingelstedt, is not able to help him any further. As far as I know our Intendant he will NOT condescend to perform King Alphonso; but none the less I will speak to Dingelstedt about it, and will prevail on him first of all to write a few lines to B., as the rules of courtesy demand. I scarcely hope to effect more than this, glad as I should be if it happened so, for you know that I am glad to show myself obliging. It is doubtful also whether B. will have much better chances with other Intendants-- for, as it seems, the good man has decidedly bad luck. Please make my excuses to him if I do not answer his letter other than by a silent condolence (in German Beleidsbezeugung!).--It has become horribly difficult nowadays to make a footing on the boards--"which signify the world"--especially for writers of cla.s.sic tragic-plays, whose lot is far more a tragic than a playing one!--Things certainly are not much better with most of the Opera composers, although that genre is the most thankful one of all. Without a strong dose of obstinacy and resignation there is no doing anything. In spite of the comforting proverb "Geduldige Schafe gehen viele in den Stall," [The English equivalent seems to be "Patience and application will carry us through."] there is for the greater number and most patient of the sheep no more room in the fold, to say nothing of food!--Thus the problem of the literary and artistic proletariat becomes from year to year more clamorous.

Your orchestral concert plan has surprised me very much, and I thank you from my heart for this fresh proof of your energy and goodwill. Yet for this year I think it would be more judicious to pause, for several reasons which it would lead me rather too far to explain, and which, therefore, I prefer to reserve for a viva voce talk. They relate to (A) my personal position and something connected with it socially; (B) the position of musical matters among artists and in the Press, which not only influence but intimidate the public, disconcert it, and palm off upon it ears, with which it cannot hear. This temporary very bad state of things I think I have, alas! at all times quite rightly acknowledged, and, if I do not greatly mistake, it must surely soon perceptibly modify in our favor. Our opponents "triumph far more than they conquer us," as Tacitus says. They will not be able to hold their narrow, malicious, negative, and unproductive thesis much longer against our quiet, a.s.sured, positive progress in Art-works. A consoling and significant symptom of this is that they are no longer able to support their adherents among living and working composers, but devour them critically while the public is so indifferent. The resume of the whole criticism of the opposition may be summed up in the following words: "All the heroes of Art in past times find, alas! no worthy successors in our day." But our time will not give up its rights--and the rightful successors will prove themselves such!

More of this when we have an opportunity. You have doubtless heard that a similar plan to yours is in progress in Leipzig. My friend Bronsart undertakes the direction of the Euterpe concerts for this winter, and there will be some rows about it. We will await the result; if it should not be satisfactory, yet the matter is so arranged that it cannot do us any great harm. As regards Vienna I think it would be wisest to let this winter pa.s.s by without troubling ourselves about it. Messrs. B., V.B., and their a.s.sociates may peacefully have Symphonies and other works performed there and mutually blow each other's trumpets.

I have still a request to make to you today, dearest Eduard.

Persuade Herbeck to send the score and the chorus and orchestral part of my "Prometheus" at once to C.F. Kahnt, the music publisher in Leipzig. The work is fixed for performance at one of the Euterpe concerts, which will take place before Christmas of this year; so it is necessary that the choruses should be studied in time. Kahnt has already written to Herbeck and also to Spina-- but as yet he has received neither an answer nor the parts and score of Prometheus that he wants.

Take the same opportunity of telling Herbeck that I should like once to hear the four Schubert Marches which I instrumented for him, and I beg him to send the score of them to me at Weymar.

Forgive me that I always trouble you with all sorts of commissions--but my Vienna acquaintances are so lazy and unreliable that I have no other alternative but to set you on everywhere..--.

Heartfelt greetings to your wife and children from your faithful and grateful

F. Liszt

P.S.--I have written something to Cornelius about my latest compositions, which he will tell you.

I expect the Princess here in October only. I will tell you, later on, much about her stay in Rome, some of which is agreeable.

243. To Hoffman von Fallersleben

My dear, honored Friend,

The melancholy tidings were reported to me by Grafe on Monday evening (in the New Weymar Verein). [Hoffmann, after he had obtained in May, 1860 the position of librarian to the Duke of Ratibor at Schloss Corvey, near Hoxter-on-the-Weser, lost his wife.] It came upon us all with a most mournful shock, and truly it needs no further words to a.s.sure you of my heartfelt sympathy in your grief!--Thank you for having thought of me. The Princess, who was always so attached to your dear good wife, has not yet returned from Rome--and I do not expect her till towards the end of November. Unfortunately I must remain here entirely until then--otherwise I should a.s.suredly come at once to you...Forgive me, therefore, that only from afar can I tell you how sincerely and truly I remain your faithfully attached friend,

F. Liszt

October 30th, 1860

I have sent your charming birthday gift for October 22nd (text and music) to the Princess.

244. To Professor Franz Gotze in Leipzig

Dear, honored Friend,

Do not think me indiscreet if I say something to you about which you yourself must know best. The artistic gifts of your daughter are as rare as they are p.r.o.nounced. I have heard her sing and declaim several times in the last few days, and each time with increasing interest. Will you not give her carte blanche, and grant your consent to the artistic career which is hers by nature and which can hardly be put aside? [Liszt, like others, was laboring under the mistake (for reasons which cannot be discussed here) that Gotze did not intend his daughter to pursue the career of an artiste, though he had had her educated both as a singer and dramatically.] I know that this may not be a very easy decision for you,--but, much as I usually refrain from giving advice of this kind, yet I cannot do otherwise than make an exception in this case, and intercede with you to let your daughter come out in public--because I am convinced that you will not regret having supported her with fatherly compliance in this.

Dr. Gille much wishes to gain your daughter for the next concert in Jena. I think that a debut there would in any case do her no harm. Later on I shall ask you whether you will allow Auguste shortly to appear here at a Court concert.

Excuse my interference in so delicate a matter by reason of the sincere interest I take in your daughter, and the faithful friends.h.i.+p with which I remain Your unalterably sincerely attached

F. Liszt

Weymar, November 4, 1860

Send a telegram to Gille in reply--if possible, "Yes," as the concert takes place next Sunday.

245. To Dr. Franz Brendel

Dear Friend,

.--. I take a sincere interest in the progress of the Euterpe concerts--a progress which up to now has been favorable on the whole; you have the chief merit in this, just because it rests with you to neutralize difficult and opposing elements.

I rejoice much that Bronsart so thoroughly fulfills my expectations. He is a director-gentleman ["Gentleman" put in English by Liszt]. I shall hear more about the concerts through Weissheimer [A composer; was for some time second director of the Euterpe concerts], who is advertised here for the day after tomorrow; until now I have only heard something about them from Fraulein Hundt [A composer, at that time in Weimar; has since died] yesterday.

With best greetings, yours in all friends.h.i.+p,

F. Liszt

Weymar, November 16th, 1860

Will you be so kind as to send me at once a couple of copies of Muller's new brochure?

.--. If it is possible to hurry the bringing out of my seventh book of songs I shall be glad. Also the "Vereins-Lied."

Give my most friendly greetings to Gotze--and at the same time tell him that his daughter (of whose great artistic powers there is no doubt) sang and declaimed last Sunday in Jena with the greatest success. The vocal numbers were "two songs by Schumann,"

one of which was encored--and at the end of the concert she declaimed the Ballade Leonore (with my melodramatic pianoforte accompaniment).

Have you heard anything of Wagner? Rienzi is being studied here, and I have undertaken to conduct the rehearsals. With regard to the performance I have at once mentioned decidedly that nothing will induce me to make an exception and conduct it--consequently Musik-director Stor will conduct it.

246. To Dr. Franz Brendel

Dear Friend,

Since I have again had a conference with respect to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Weymar next August, I am happy to be able to tell you that not only will there be no obstacle to it, but that we may expect that much will be done to further the matter here. In your next announcement in the Neue Zeitschrift about the Tonkunstler-Versammlung you are therefore fully authorized to intimate the readiness of the artists, both vocal and instrumental, here and in the neighborhood (Jena, Eisenach, Sondershausen, etc.), as also the favorable disposition of H.R.H.

the Grand Duke, for the matter. This latter point must be mentioned with some formality, so that I can submit your article to my gracious master.

According to my opinion it would be well if, in this connection, you were to touch upon the musical antecedents of Weymar (performances of Wagner, Berlioz, Schumann), also the founding of the Academy of Painting by the Grand Duke which took place lately, and also the protectorate which H.R.H. has undertaken of the Allegemeine deutsche Schiller-Stiftung [The Universal German Schiller Scholars.h.i.+p] (the first place of which is to be Weymar next year).

Yours in all friends.h.i.+p,

F. Liszt

December 2nd, 1860

P.S.--With the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung I join three princ.i.p.al things:--

(1) The founding and establis.h.i.+ng of the Tonkunstler-Vierein.