Etext of Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 1, "From Paris to Rome: Years of Travel as a Virtuoso," collected by La Mara and Translated by Constance Bache Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 1, "From Paris to Rome: Years of Travel as a Virtuoso" by Franz Liszt; letters collected by La Mara and translated by Constance Bache CONTENTS BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH DEDICATION PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION, BY CONSTANCE BACHE TABLE OF LETTER CONTENTS THE LETTERS OF FRANZ LISZT, VOL. 1 INFO ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH The Austrian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a pianistic miracle. He could play anything on site and composed over 400 works centered around "his" instrument. Among his key works are his Hungarian Rhapsodies, his Transcendental Etudes, his Concert Etudes, his Etudes based on variations of Paganinini's Violin Caprices and his Sonata, one of the most important of the nineteenth century. He also wrote thousands of letters, of which 260 are translated into English in this first of a 2-volume set of letters. Those who knew him were also struck by his extremely sophisticated personality. He was surely one of the most civilized people of the nineteeth century, internalizing within himself a complex conception of human civility, and attempting to project it in his music and his communications with people. His life was centered around people; he knew them, worked with them, remembered them, thought about them, and wrote about them using an almost poetic language, while pushing them to reflect the high ideals he believed in. His personality was the embodiment of a refined, idealized form of human civility. He was the consummate musical artist, always looking for ways to communicate a new civilized idea through music, and to work with other musicians in organizing concerts and gatherings to perform the music publicly. He also did as much as he could to promote and compliment those whose music he believed in. He was also a superlative musical critic, knowing, with few mistakes, what music of his day was "artistic" and what was not. But, although he was clearly a musical genius, he insisted on projecting a tonal, romantic "beauty" in his music, confining his music to a narrow range of moral values and ideals. He would have rejected 20th-century music that entertained cynical notions of any kind, or notions that obviated the concept of beauty in any way. There is no Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Cage, Adams and certainly no Schoenberg in Liszt's music. His music has an ideological "ceiling," and that ceiling is "beauty." It never goes beyond that. And perhaps it was never as "beautiful" as the music of Mozart, Bach or Beethoven, nor quite as rational (Are all the emotions in Liszt's music truly "controlled?"). But it certainly was original and instructive, and it certainly will linger. DEDICATION To the Memory of MY BROTHER WALTER, AND TO OUR DEAR AND HONORED FRIEND A.J. HIPKINS, ESQ., I DEDICATE THIS TRANSLATION. --C.B. PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION, BY CONSTANCE BACHE In writing a few words of Preface I wish to express, first and foremost, my appreciation of the extreme care and conscientiousness with which La Mara has prepared these volumes. In a spirit of no less reverence I have endeavored, in the English translation, to adhere as closely as possible to all the minute characteristics that add expression to Liszt's letters: punctuation has, of necessity, undergone alteration, but italics, inverted commas, dashes and other marks have been strictly observed. It may be objected that unnecessary particularity has been shown in the translation of various titles, names of Societies or newspapers, quotations, etc.; but there are many people who, while understanding French, do not read German, and vice versa, and therefore it has seemed better to translate everything. Where anything has been omitted in the printed letters I have adhered to the sign .--. employed by La Mara to indicate the hiatus. It has seemed best to preserve the spelling of all proper names as written by Liszt, and not to Anglicise any, as it is impossible to do all; and therefore, even at the risk of a seeming affectation, the original form of the name has been preserved. In the same spirit I have adhered to the correct form of the name of our adopted composer Handel, and trust I may be pardoned for so doing on the strength of a little joke of Liszt's own "The English," he said, "always talk about Gluck and Handel!" La Mara says in her Preface that this collection can by no means be considered a complete one, as there must exist other letters-- to Liszt's mother, to Berlioz, Tausig, etc.--which it is hoped may yet be some day forthcoming. In like manner might there not also be letters to his daughter Madame Ollivier (not to mention his still-living daughter Madame Wagner)? [Another volume of Liszt's letters, of a still more intimate character, addressed to a lady friend, will be published later on.] The English edition is increased by four letters one to Peter Cornelius, No. 256A in Vol. I., which is interesting in its reference to the "Barbier"; and, in Vol. II., a kind letter of introduction which the Master gave me for Madame Tardieu, in Brussels; one letter to Walter Bache, and one to the London Philharmonic Society (Nos. 370A and 370B); one of these, it is true, is partially quoted in a footnote by La Mara, but at this distance of time there is no reason why these letters should not be inserted entire, and they will prove of rather particular interest, both to my brother's friends, and also as having reference to that never-to-be-forgotten episode--Liszt's last visit to England. This visit, which took place in 1886, a few months before the Master's death, was for the purpose of his being present at the performance of his Oratorio of St. Elizabeth (see Letter 370 and subsequent letters). More than forty years had elapsed since Liszt's previous visit to our shores; times had changed, and the almost unknown, and wholly unappreciated, had become the acknowledged King in a realm where many were Princes. Some lines embodying in words England's welcome to this king--headed by a design in which the Hungarian and the English coats-of-arms unite above two clasped hands, and a few bars of a leading theme from the St. Elizabeth--were written by me and presented to Liszt with a basket of roses (emblematic of the rose miracle in the Oratorio) tied with the Hungarian colors, on his entrance into St. James's Hall on April 6th, 1886. As a memento of that occasion it has been chosen as frontispiece to the Second Volume. Constance Bache London, December 1893 TABLE OF LETTER CONTENTS (LETTER NUMBER, FOLLOWED BY ADDRESSEE): 1. Carl Czerny in Vienna. December 23rd, 1828 2. De Mancy in Paris. December 23rd, 1829 3. Carl Czerny. August 26th, 1830 4. Alphonse Brot in Paris. Beginning of the 30th year 5. Pierre Wolff in Geneva. May 2nd, 1832 6. Ferdinand Hiller. June 20th, 1833 7. Abbe de Lamennais, La Chenaie. January 14th, 1835 8. Liszt's Mother 183- 9. Abbe de Lamennais. May 28th, 1836 10. Lydie Pavy in Lyons. August 22nd, 1836 11. Abbe de Lamennais. December 18th, 1837 12. Breitkopf and Hartel in Leipzig. April 5th, 1838 13. Robert Schumann in Leipzig. May, 1838 14. The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. June 1st, 1815 15. Simon Lowy in Vienna. September 22nd, 1838 16. Pacini in Paris. September 30th, 1838 17. Breitkopf and Hartel. January 3rd, 1839 18. Princess Christine Belgiojoso in Paris. June 4th, 1839 19. Robert Schumann. June 5th, 1820 20. Breitkopf and Hartel. June, 1839 21. The Beethoven Committee at Bonn. October 3rd, 1839 22. Count Leo Festetics in Pest. November 24th, 1839 23. Clara Wieck. December 25th, 1839 24. Robert Schumann. March 27th, 1841 25. Franz von Schober in Vienna. April 3rd, 1840 26. Maurice Schlesinger in Paris. May 14th, 1840 27. Franz von Schober. May or June, 1840 28. the same. August 29th, 1840 29. Buloz in Paris. October 26th, 1840 30. Franz von Schober. December 5th, 1840 31. Breitkopf and Hartel. May 7th, 1841 32. Simon Lowy. May 20th, 1841 33. Franz von Schober. March 3rd, 1842 34. The Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Konigsberg. March 18th, 1842 35. Freiherr von Spiegel in Weimar. September 12th, 1842 36. Carl Filitsch2 or 1843 37. Franz von Schober. March 4th, 1844 38. Franz Kroll. June 11th, 1844 39. Freund. June 11th, 1844 40. Franz von Schober. March 3rd, 1845 41. Franz Kroll in Glogau. March 26th, 1845 42. Abbe de Lamennais. April 28th, 1845 43. Frederic Chopin. May 21st, 1845 44. George Sand. May 21st, 1845 45. Abbe de Lamennais. June 1st, 1845 46. Gaetano Belloni in Paris. July 23rd, 1845 47. Mme. Rondonneau in Sedan. February 11th, 1846 48. Grillparzer 1846 (?) 49. Franz von Schober in Weimar. April 11th, 1846 50. the same. May 28th, 1846 51. Alexander Seroff. September 14th, 1847 52. Carl Haslinger in Vienna. December 19th, 1847 53. Baron von Dornis in Jena. March 6th, 1848 54. Franz von Schober. April 22nd, 1848 55. Bernhard Cossmann in Baden-Baden. September 18th, 1848 56. Carl Reinecke. March 25th, 1849 57. Count Sandor Teleky(?) May 5th, 1849 58. Belloni(?). May 14th, 1849 59. Carl Reinecke. May 30th, 1849 60. Robert Schumann. June 5th, 1849 61. the same. July 27th, 1849 62. the same. August 1st, 1849 63. Carl Reinecke. September 7th, 1849 64. Breitkopf and Hartel. January 14th, 1850 65. the same. February 24th, 1850 66. J. C. Lobe in Leipzig. July 10th, 1850 67. Friedrich Wieck in Dresden. August 4th, 1850 68. Simon Lowy. August 5th, 1850 69. Mathilde Graumann. October 11th, 1850 70. Carl Reinecke. January 1st, 1851 71. Leon Escudier in Paris. February 4th, 1851 72. Carl Reinecke. March 19th, 1851 73. Dr. Eduard Liszt in Vienna1 74. Count Casimir Esterhazy. June 6th, 1851 75. Theodor Uhlig in Dresden. June 25th, 1851 76. Rosalie Spohr in Brunswick. July 3rd, 1851 77. the same. July 22nd, 1851 78. Breitkopf and Hartel. December 1st, 1851 79. Louis Kohler in Konigsberg. April 16th, 1852 80. Carl Reinecke. April 16th, 1852 81. Carl Czerny. April 19th, 1852 82. Gustav Schmidt in Frankfort-on-the-Maine. May 18th, 1852 83. Robert Schumann. June 8th, 1852 84.the same. June 26th, 1852 85. Peter Cornelius. September 4th, 1852 86. Clara Schumann. September 11th, 1852 87. Carl Czerny. September or October, 1852 88. Breitkopf and Hartel. October 30th, 1852 89. the same. November 10th, 1852 90. Julius Stern in Berlin. November 24th, 1852 91. Wilhelm von Lenz in St. Petersburg. December 2nd, 1852 92. Robert Radecke in Leipzig. December 9th, 1852 93. Bernhard Cossmann. December, 1852 94. Wilhelm Fischer in Dresden. January 13th, 1853 95. Edmund Singer. January 15th, 1853 96. To Frau Dr. Lidy Steche in Leipzig. February 14th, 1853 97. Gustav Schmidt. February 27th, 1853 98. Heinrich Brockhaus in Leipzig. March 22nd, 1853 99. Dr. Franz Brendel in Leipzig. April 3rd, 1853 100. the same. April 30th, 1853 101. Louis Kohler. May 6th, 1853 102. the same. May 24th, 1853 103. the same. August 1st, 1853 104. Richard Pohl in Dresden. November 5th, 1853 105. Wilhelm Fischer. January 4th, 1854 106. Escudier in Paris. January 21st, 1854 107. the same. January 28th, 1854 108. Dr. Franz Brendel. February 20th, 1854 109. Louis Kohler. March 2nd, 1854 110. Dr. Franz Brendel. March 18th, 1854 111. Louis Kohler. April or May, 1854 112. Dr. Franz Brendel. April 26th, 1854 113. Louis Kohler. June 8th, 1854 114. Dr. Franz Brendel. June 12th, 1854 115. Carl Klindworth in London. July 2nd, 1854 116. Dr. Franz Brendel. July 7th, 1854 117. Anton Rubinstein. July 31st, 1854 118. Dr. Franz Brendel. August 12th, 1854 119. Anton Rubinstein. August, 1854 120. Alexander Ritter in Dresden. September 6th, 1854 121. Bernhard Cossmann. September 8th, 1854 122. Gaetano Belloni. September 9th, 1854 123. Dr. Eduard Liszt October 10th, 1854 124. Anton Rubinstein. October 19th, 1854 125. Dr. Franz Brendel. Beginning of November, 1854 126. Anton Rubinstein. November 19th, 1854 215 127. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 1st, 1854 128. J. W. von Wasielecvski in Bonn. December 14th, 1854 129. William Mason in New York. December 14th, 1854 130. Rosalie Spohr. January 4th, 1855 131. To Alfred Dorffel in Leipzig. January 17th, 1855 132. Anton Rubinstein. February 1st, 1855 133. Louis Kohler. March 16th, 1855 134. Dr. Franz Brendel. March 18th, 1855 135. the same. April 1st, 1855 136. Anton Rubinstein. April 3rd, 1855 137. Freiherr Beaulieu-Marconnay. May 21st, 1855 138. Anton Rubinstein. June 3rd, 1855 139. Dr. Franz Brendel. June, 1855 140. the same. June 16th, 1855 141. Edmund Singer. August 1st, 1855 142. Bernhard Cossmann. August 15th, 1855 143. August Kiel in Detmold. September 8th, 1855 144. Moritz Hauptmann. September 28th, 1855 145. Dr. Eduard Liszt December 3rd, 1855 146. Frau Meyerbeer in Berlin. December 14th, 1855 147. Dr. Ritter von Seiler in Vienna. December 26th, 1855 148. Dr. Eduard Liszt February 9th, 1856 149. Dr. von Seiler. February loth, 1856 150. Dr. Franz Brendel. February 19th, 1856 151. Dionys Pruckner in Vienna. March 17th, 1856 152. Breitkopf and Hartel. May 15th, 1856 153. Louis Kohler. May 24th, 1856 154. the same. July 9th, 1856 155. Hoffmann von Fallersleben. July 14th, 1856 156. Wilhelm Wieprecht. July 18th, 1856 157. Edmund Singer. July 28th, 1856 158. Joachim Raff. July 31st, 1856 159. Anton Rubinstein. August 6th, 1856 160. Joachim Raff. August 7th, 1856 161. Anton Rubinstein. August 21st, 1856 162. Dr. Eduard Liszt September 5th, 1856 163. Louis Kohler. October 8th, 1856 164. Dr. Gille in Jena. November 14th, 1856 165. Dr. Adolf Stern in Dresden. November 14th, 18293 166. Louis Kohler. November 21st, 1856 167. Dr. Eduard Liszt November 24th, 1856 168. Alexander Ritter in Stettin. December 4th, 1856 169. L. A. Zellner in Vienna. January 2nd, 1857 299 170. Von Turanyi in Aix-la-Chapelle. January 3rd, 1830 171. J. W. von Wasielewski. January 9th, 1857 172. Alexis von Lwoff in St. Petersburg. January 10th, 1857 173. Johann von Herbeck in Vienna. January 12th, 1857 174. Franz Gotze in Leipzig. February 1st, 1857 175. Dionys Pruckner. February 11th, 1857 176. Joachim Raff. February, 1857 177. Ferdinand David. February 26th, 1857 178. Wladimir Stassoff in St. Petersburg. March 17th, 1857 179. Wilhelm von Lenz in St. Petersburg. March 24th, 1857 180. Dr. Eduard Liszt March 26th, 1857 181. Georg Schariezer in Pressburg. April 25th, 1857 182. Dr. Eduard Liszt April 27th, 1857 183. Frau von Kaulbach. May 1st, 1857 184. Fedor von Milde in Weimar. June 3rd, 1857 185. Johann von Herbeck. June 12th, 1857 186. Countess Rosalie Sauerma. June 22nd, 1857 187. Ludmilla Schestakoff in St. Petersburg. October 7th, 1857 188. Carl Haslinger. December 5th, 1857 189. Stein in Sondershausen. December 6th, 1857 190. Alexander Ritter. December 7th, 1857 191. Max Seifriz in Lowenberg. December 24th, 1857 192. Alexander Seroff. January 8th, 1858 193. Basil von Engelhardt. January 8th, 1858 194. Felix Draseke. January Loth, 1858 195. Louis Kohler. February 1st, 1858 196. L.A. Zellner. February 8th, 1858 197. Peter Cornelius. February 19th, 1858 198. Dionys Pruckner. March 9th, 1858 199. Dr. Eduard Liszt March Loth, 1858 200. Fran Dr. Steche. March 20th, 1858 201. L. A. Zellner. April 6th, 1858 202. Dr. Eduard Liszt April 7th, 1858 203. Adolf Reubke in Hausneinsdorf. June 10th, 1858 204. Prince Constantin von Hohenzollern-Hechingen. August 18th, 1858 205. Frau Rosa von Milde. August 25th, 1858 206. Dr. Franz Brendel. November 2nd, 1858 207. Johann von Herbeck. November 22nd, 1858 208. Felix Draseke. January 12th, 1859 209. Heinrich Porges. March loth, 18379 210. Max Seifriz. March 22nd, 1859 211. Dr. Eduard Liszt April 5th, 1859 212. Music-Director N. N. April 17th, 1859 213. Peter Cornelius. May 23rd, 1859 214. Dr. Franz Brendel. May 23rd, 1859 215. Felix Draseke. July 19th, 1859 216. Peter Cornelius. August 23rd, 1859 217. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 2nd, 1859 218. Louis Kohler. September 3rd, 1859 219. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 8th, 1859 220. Johann von Herbeck. October 11th, 1859 221. Felix Draseke. October 20th, 1859 222. Heinrich Porges. October 30th, 1859 223. Ingeborg Stark. November 2nd, 1859 224. Johann von Herbeck. November 18th, 1859 225. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 1st, 1859 226. Anton Rubinstein. December 3rd, 1859 227. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 6th, 1859 228. Dr. Eduard Liszt December 28th, 1859 229. Josef Dessauer. December 30th, 1859 230. Wilkoszewski in Munich. January 15th, 1860 231. Johann von Herbeck. January 26th, 1860 232. Dr. Franz Brendel. January 25th, 1860 233. Friedrich Hebbel. February 5th, 1860 234. Dr. Franz Brendel. February, 1860 235. the same March or April, 1860 236. Louis Kohler. July 5th, 1860 237. Dr. Eduard Liszt July 9th, 1860 238. Ingeborg Stark. Summer, 1860 239. Dr. Franz Brendel. August 9th, 1860 240. Princess C. Sayn-Wittgenstein. September 14th, 1860 241. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 20th, 1860 242. Dr. Eduard Liszt September 20th, 1860 243. Hoffmann von Fallersleben. October 3oth, 1860 244. Franz Gotze. November 4th, 1860 245. Dr. Franz Brendel. November 16th, 1860 246. the same. December 2nd, 1860 247. C.F. Kahnt in Leipzig. December 2nd, 1860 248. the same. December 19th, 1860 249. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 19th, 1860 250. Felix Draseke. December 3oth, 1860 251. Dr. Franz Brendel. Beginning of January, 1861 252. the same. January 20th, 1861 253. the same. March 4th, 1861 254. Peter Cornelius. April 18th, 1861. 255. Hoffmann von Fallersleben. April 18th, 1861 256. Peter Cornelius. July 12th, 1861 256A. the same. July 14th, 1861 257. Alfred Dorffel. July 18th, 1861 258. Edmund Singer in Stuttgart. August 17th, 1861 259. C.F. Kahnt. August 27th, 1861 260. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 16th, 1861 THE LETTERS OF FRANZ LISZT, VOL. 1 1. To Carl Czerny in Vienna. [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.-- The addressee was Liszt's former teacher, the celebrated Viennese teacher of music and composer of innumerable instructive works (1791-1857).] My very dear Master, When I think of all the immense obligations under which I am placed towards you, and at the same time consider how long I have left you without a sign of remembrance, I am perfectly ashamed and miserable, and in despair of ever being forgiven by you! "Yes," I said to myself with a deep feeling of bitterness, "I am an ungrateful fellow; I have forgotten my benefactor, I have forgotten that good master to whom I owe both my talent and my success."...At these words a tear starts to my eyes, and I assure you that no repentant tear was ever more sincere! Receive it as an expiation, and pardon me, for I cannot any longer bear the idea that you have any ill-feeling towards me. You will pardon me, my dear Master, won't you? Embrace me then...good! Now my heart is light. You have doubtless heard that I have been playing your admirable works here with the greatest success, and all the glory ought to be given to you. I intended to have played your variations on the "Pirate" the day after tomorrow at a very brilliant concert that I was to have given at the theater of H.R.H. Madame, who was to have been present as well as the Duchess of Orleans; but man proposes and God disposes. I have suddenly caught the measles, and have been obliged to say farewell to the concert; but it is not given up because it is put off, and I hope, as soon as ever I am well again, to have the pleasure of making these beautiful variations known to a large public. Pixis [a notable pianist (1788-1874)--lived a long time in Paris] and several other people have spoken much to me of four concertos that you have lately finished, and the reputation of which is already making a stir in Paris. I should be very much pleased, my dear Master, if you would commission me to get them sold. This would be quite easy for me to do, and I should also have the pleasure of playing them FROM FIRST HAND, either at the opera or at some big concerts. If my proposition pleases you, send them to me by the Austrian Embassy, marking the price that you would like to have for them. As regards any passages to be altered, if there are any, you need only mark them with a red pencil, according to your plan which I know so well, and I will point them out to the editor with the utmost care. Give me at the same time some news about music and pianists in Vienna; and finally tell me, dear Master, which of your compositions you think would make the best effect in society. I close by sending you my heartfelt greetings, and begging you once more to pardon the shameful silence I have kept towards you: be assured that it has given me as much pain as yourself! Your very affectionate and grateful pupil, F. Liszt December 23rd, 1828 P.S.--Please answer me as soon as possible, for I am longing for a letter from you; and please embrace your excellent parents from me. I add my address (Rue Montholon, No. 7bis). 2. To De Mancy in Paris [Autograph in the possession of M. Etienne Charavay in Paris.] December 23rd, 1829 My Dear M. de Mancy, I am so full of lessons that each day, from half-past eight in the morning till 10 at night, I have scarcely breathing time. Please excuse me therefore for not coming, as I should have liked to do, to lunch with Madame de Mancy, but it is quite impossible. The only thing I could do would be to come about 10 o'clock, if that would not be too late for a wedding day, and in that case I will beg M. Ebner [Carl Ebner, a Hungarian, a talented violinist (1812-1836)] to come with me. I don't write you a longer letter, for there is a pupil who has been waiting for me for an hour. Besides, we are not standing on ceremony. Ever yours, F. Liszt 3. To Carl Czerny [Autograph in the Musical Society's Archives in Vienna. Printed in a German translation: "La Mara, Letters of Musicians extending over Five Centuries." II. Leipzig, B. and H. 1887.] My dear and beloved Master, It would be impossible to explain to you the why and wherefore of my leaving you so long without news of me. Moreover, I have now only five minutes in which to write to you, for Mr. Luden, a pianist from Copenhagen, is starting shortly, and for fear of delaying his journey I must be brief; but what is postponed is not lost, so cheer up, for very soon you will get a great thick letter from me, which I will take care to prepay, as I should not like to ruin you. Among all the circles of artists where I go in this country I plead your cause tremendously: we all want you to come and stay some time in Paris; it would certainly do you a great deal of good, and you are so widely esteemed that you will doubtless be well satisfied with the reception you will meet with here. If you ever entertain this idea, write to me, I entreat you, for I will do for you what I would do for my father. I have been making a special study of your admirable sonata (Op. 7), and have since played it at several reunions of connoisseurs (or would-be connoisseurs): you cannot imagine what an effect it made; I was quite overcome by it. It was in a burst of enthusiasm caused by the Prestissimo, that Mr. Luden begged for a few words of introduction to you; I know your kindness, indeed I could never forget it. I therefore commend him in all confidence of your goodness, until the time when I am so happy as to embrace you myself and to show you (however feebly) all the gratitude and admiration which fill me. F. Liszt Paris, August 26th, 1830 4. To Alphonse Brot in Paris [Autograph in the possession of M. Etienne Charavay in Paris.] (Paris, Beginning of the 30th year.) It would give us great pleasure, my dear M. Brot, if you would come and dine with us without ceremony tomorrow, Monday, about 6 o'clock; I do not promise you a good dinner,--that is not the business of us poor artists; but the good company you will meet will, I trust, make up for that. Monsieur Hugo [the poet] and Edgard Quinet [French writer and philosopher] have promised to come. So do try not to disappoint us, for we should miss you much. My good mother told me to press you to come, for she is very fond of you. Till tomorrow then! Kind regards and thanks. F. Liszt I have been at least six times to you without having the pleasure of seeing you. 61, Rue de Provence. 5. Monsieur Pierre Wolff (Junior), Rue de la Tertasse, Geneva, Switzerland [Autograph in the possession of M. Gaston Calmann-Levy in Paris.] Nous disons: "Il est temps. Executons, c'est l'heure." Alors nous retournons les yeux--La Mort est la! Ainsi de mes projets.--Quand vous verrai-je, Espagne, Et Venise et son golfe, et Rome et sa campagne, Toi, Sicile, que ronge un volcan souterrain, Grece qu'on connait trop, Sardaigne qu'on ignore, Cites de l'Aquilon, du Couchant, de l'Aurore, Pyramides du Nil, Cathedrales du Rhin! Qui sait?-- jamais peut-etre! [We say: "Now it is time. Let's act, for 'tis the hour." Then turn we but our eyes--lo! death is there! Thus with my plans. When shall I see thee, Espagna, And Venice with her gulf, and Rome with her Campagna; Thou, Sicily, whom volcanoes undermine; Greece, whom we know too well, Sardinia, unknown one, Lands of the north, the west, the rising sun, Pyramids of the Nile, Cathedrals of the Rhine! Who knows? Never perchance!] Earthly life is but a malady of the soul, an excitement which is kept up by the passions. The natural state of the soul is rest! Paris, May 2nd [1832] Here is a whole fortnight that my mind and fingers have been working like two lost spirits, Homer, the Bible, Plato, Locke, Byron, Hugo, Lamartine, Chateaubriand, Beethoven, Bach, Hummel, Mozart, Weber, are all around me. I study them, meditate on them, devour them with fury; besides this I practice four to five hours of exercises (3rds, 6ths, 8ths, tremolos, repetition of notes, cadences, etc., etc.). Ah! provided I don't go mad, you will find an artist in me! Yes, an artist such as you desire, such as is required nowadays! "And I too am a painter!" cried Michael Angelo the first time he beheld a chef d'oeuvre...Though insignificant and poor, your friend cannot leave off repeating those words of the great man ever since Paganini's last performance. Rene, what a man, what a violin, what an artist! Heavens! what sufferings, what misery, what tortures in those four strings! Here are a few of his characteristics:-- [Figure: Liszt here writes down several tiny excerpts from musical scores of Paganini's violin music, such as his famous "Caprices"] As to his expression, his manner of phrasing, his very soul in fact!---- May 8th [1832] My good friend, it was in a paroxysm of madness that I wrote you the above lines; a strain of work, wakefulness, and those violent desires (for which you know me) had set my poor head aflame; I went from right to left, then from left to right (like a sentinel in the winter, freezing), singing, declaiming, gesticulating, crying out; in a word, I was delirious. Today the spiritual and the animal (to use the witty language of M. de Maistre) are a little more evenly balanced; for the volcano of the heart is not extinguished, but is working silently.--Until when?-- Address your letters to Monsieur Reidet, the receiver-general at the port of Rouen. A thousand kind messages to the ladies Boissier. I will tell you some day the reasons which prevented me from starting for Geneva. On this subject I shall call you in evidence. Bertini is in London; Madame Malibran is making her round of Germany; Messemaecker (how is he getting on?) is resting on his laurels at Brussels; Aguado has the illustrious maestro Rossini in tow.--Ah--Hi--Oh--Hu!!! 6. To Ferdinand Hiller [This letter, published by F. Niecks ("F. Chopin, Man and Musician," Vol. 1. German by Langhans. Leipzig, Leuckart, 1890), was written by Liszt and Chopin jointly, and was also signed by Chopin's friend Franchomme, the violoncellist. The part written by Chopin is indicated here by parentheses ().--Addressed to the well-known composer and author, afterwards Director of the Conservatorium and Concert Society at Cologne (1811-1885).] This is the twentieth time, at least, that we have tried to meet, first at my house, then here, with the intention of writing to you, and always some visit, or some other unforeseen hindrance, has occurred. I don't know whether Chopin will be strong enough to make excuses to you; for my part, it seems to me that we have been so unmannerly and impertinent that no excuses are now permissible or possible. We sympathized most deeply in your bereavement, and more deeply did we wish that we could be with you in order to soften, as far as possible, the grief of your heart. [Hiller had lost his father.] (He has said it all so well that I have nothing to add to excuse me specially for my negligence or idleness, or whim or distraction, or--or--or--You know that I can explain myself better in person, and, this autumn, when I take you home late by the boulevards to your mother, I shall try to obtain your pardon. I am writing to you without knowing what my pen is scribbling, as Liszt is at this moment playing my Studies, and transporting me away from all suitable ideas. I wish I could steal his manner of rendering my own works. With regard to your friends who are staying in Paris, I have often seen, during this winter and spring, the Leo family [August Leo, banker in Paris], and all that follows. There have been evenings at certain ambassadresses' houses, and there was not a single one at which somebody living at Frankfort was not mentioned. Madame Eichthal sends you many kind messages--Plater [Count Plater, Chopin's countryman, and a friend also of Liszt], the whole family were very sorry for your departure, and begged me to give you their condolences.) Madame d'Apponyi [Apponyi, the Austrian ambassador in Paris] was very much vexed with me for not having taken you there before your departure; she hopes that when you come back you will be sure to remember the promise you made me. I will say as much of a certain lady who is not an ambassadress. Do you know Chopin's wonderful Studies?--(They are admirable! and moreover they will last only until yours appear) = an author's little piece of modesty!!! (A little piece of rudeness on the part of the regent, for--to explain the matter fully--he is correcting my spelling) according to the method of Monsieur Marlet. You will come back in the month of (September, isn't it? tr)y [Tach]ez] to let us know the day; we have determined to give you a serenade or charivari [mock serenade]. The company of the most distinguished artists of the capital = M. Franchomme (present), Madame Petzold, and the Abbe Bardin [passionate lover of music, who had a great many artists to see him], the leaders of the Rue d'Amboise (and my neighbors), Maurice Schlesinger [music publisher], uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and--and ("en plan du troisienae," etc.). ["in the third row--i.e. less important people]. The responsible editors, F. Liszt (F. Chopin) (Aug. Franchomme.) (By-the-bye, I met Heine yesterday, who begged me to grussen you herzlich and herzlich.) [to send you his warmest and most heartfelt greetings] (By-the-bye, also, please excuse all the "you's" [Instead of the more familiar "thee" and "thou."]--I do beg you to excuse them. If you have a moment to spare, give us news of yourself, which would be most welcome. Paris, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, No. 5. At present I am occupying Franck's lodging [Dr. Hermann Franck, author, friend of Chopin and of many other celebrities; editor also for a short time, in the forties, of Brockhaus's "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung"]--he is gone to London and Berlin. I am most happy in the rooms which were so often our meeting-place. Berlioz sends greetings. As to pere Baillot, he is in Switzerland, at Geneva. So now you can guess that I can't send you the Bach concerto. June 20th, 1833) 7. To Abbe F. de Lamennais [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.-- Addressed to the celebrated French author (1782-1854), who followed his brilliant apology of Catholicism, "Essai sur l'Indifference en Matiere de Religion" (Essay on Indifference in Matters of Religion, 1817-1823), by the "Paroles d'un Croyant" (Words of a Believer, 1834), a veritable "Ode to revolution in the sublimest biblical style," and sought to bring religious and political liberty into accord with true religiousness. The latter work made an unheard-of sensation, but brought upon him the anathema of the Church. He obtained a great influence over Liszt, who was on intimate terms with him.] Four months have actually passed, dear Father, since we parted, and I feel very sad at not getting a word from you!--at the same time I do not wish to complain, for it seems to me that you can never doubt my deep and filial affection...Much more, I even know that you have been willing to accept it, and, however humble it may be, to count it for something...What more then can I desire?... Eugene, whose brotherly friendship becomes dearer to me day by day, has often given me good tidings of you. The last time I saw him he told me confidentially that you were working at a sort of Introduction, or developed Preface to your works.--Although I know perfectly well that my interest counts for nothing in this matter, I may be permitted nevertheless to tell you how glad I am to know that you are occupied with this work. To yourself, first of all, I think you owe it--your name and glory will shine out all the more powerfully for it. And, secondly, for the public it will be a work of art the more (and this commodity becomes rather rare as time goes on), and which will besides have the double advantage of aiding and fixing them in the understanding of your past works, whilst at the same time preparing them for, and initiating them into, your future thoughts. And, lastly, for us who love you, and who would glory and be proud to be one day called your disciples, we rejoice in it because the world will learn to know you better by this means, and because it will probably be another opportunity for us to show our sympathetic admiration as well as our unalterable devotion for you. Unless something very unforeseen occurs, I shall come again and beg you to receive me for a few days towards the middle of July; I trust sufficiently to your sincerity to tell me that you would rather not have me if my individuality would trouble or bother you too much.--Before that, I shall have the honor of sending you a little work, to which I have had the audacity to tack a great name--yours.--It is an instrumental De profundis. The plain-song that you like so much is preserved in it with the Faburden. Perhaps this may give you a little pleasure, at any rate, I have done it in remembrance of some hours passed (I should say "lived") at La Chenaie. Farewell, dear Father. I don't give you any news of Paris,--you know all that. You know that Ballanche wants to be an Academician, and accepts Salvandy and Dupaty as competitors,--you know the little check of January,--the miserable petty intrigues of court and newspaper and vestry;--in a word, you know how men are wanting in noble and generous sentiments, and how they make the most of their own ignoble ends and interests, to which their words and actions yet give the lie. Farewell once more, dear Father. Think as often as possible of all the good you have done, and of that which men have a right to expect of you. Think sometimes also of the help and the wealth of affection that you have showered on me in particular, and may the remembrance of this be sweet to you!... Yours ever, for life--from heart and soul, F. Liszt January 14th, 1835 Tomorrow morning I have to leave for two months. If you should be so good as to write to me before my return, please address always, 61, Rue de Provence. My mother will take care that I have your kind letter. 8. To his Mother [From a copy, by Mr. Vladimir Stassoff of St. Petersburg, the original of which is in Russia. The letter in itself is unimportant, but it is the only one to Liszt's mother which the editor could get, and gives a fresh proof of the devotion of the artist to his mother.] Dear Mother, Please send me at once, without any delay, the Pianist's Glossary, which you will get at Lemonier's, Rue de l'Echelle. Simply put it in a cover, and put it in the post (General Office), and I shall get it, at latest, by Monday or Tuesday.-- Address to Mr. Hermann Cohen, Grande Rue, No. 8. [Cohen was a frequently mentioned pupil and favorite of Liszt's who was born at Hamburg in 1820, much thought of as a pianist in Paris, and immortalised as "Puzzi" by George Sand ("Lettres d'un Voyageur"); he followed Liszt to Geneva, and gave lessons there. In 1850 he entered the order of Carmelites, and, under the name of Pater Augustin, died in Berlin in January 1871, whither he had gone with French prisoners.] I have an immense deal to do this morning, so that I have barely time to tell you that I love you with all my heart, and that I rejoice above everything at the prospect of seeing you again soon--that is to say, in six or eight months. F. Liszt You will hear of me from Mr. Pinondel, who passed a day with us. 9. To the Abbe F. de Lamennais, La Chenaie [Autograph in the possession of Mr. Marshall in London.] [Paris, May 28th, 1836--according to the stamp of the post office] Dear and venerable Father, I shall expect you. Whatever sorrow there is in the depth of my soul, it will be sweet and consoling to me to see you again. You are so wonderfully good to me! and I should suffer so much by being so long away from you!-- Au revoir then, once more--in eight days at latest it will be, will it not? I do nothing else than keep expecting you. Yours, with the deepest respect and most sincere devotion, F. Liszt 10. To Mademoiselle Lydie Pavy, of La Glaciere, Lyons [Autograph in the possession of M. Etienne Charavay in Paris.] St. Gervais, August 22nd [1836]. Your postscript deserves a punishment, and here it comes dated from St. Gervais. I do not know whether your charming sister-in- law, Madame Pavy, will consider this stamp of St. Gervais worthy to appear in her collection; be that as it may, it gives me no less a pleasure to converse a little with you who are always so charming, so versatile, so excellent, and, permit me to say, so kind to me. Mademoiselle Merienne, whom I saw only quite lately (for you must know that during the whole month of July, of glorious memory, I have barely condescended to go down once or twice to Geneva; I was living in a little bit of a house on the mountain, whence, let me say parenthetically, it would have been quite easy for me to hurl sermons and letters at you); Mademoiselle Merienne (what shall I say to you after such an enormous parenthesis?), somewhat like (by way of a new parenthesis) those declaimed discourses of Plantade or Lhuillier, which put a stop to music whilst nevertheless admitting that there is such a thing, whether at the beginning or at the end--Mademoiselle Merienne--au diable Mademoiselle Merienne! You guess by this time that she gave me tidings of you, that she is a delightful and enchanting person, that she makes admirable portraits, and that mine, amongst others, has been a wonderful success. Etc., etc., and always etc... And yet I do wish to talk to you about this good Mademoiselle Merienne, for she said a heap of charming things to me for your sake, which will certainly not astonish you. But how to set about it after all this preamble of parentheses? Ah, I have it!--In three or four weeks I shall come and knock at your door.--And then? Well, then we will chatter away at our ease. So much the worse for you if you are not satisfied with my cunning stratagem. Now let us talk business; yes, seriously, let us talk business! Has your brother returned from his journey? And is he well? And has no accident happened to him on the way? You are surprised, perhaps, at my anxiety; but by-and-bye you will understand it without difficulty, when I have explained to you how terribly interested I am in the fact of his journey being safely accomplished. Just imagine that at this moment I have only 200 fr. in my purse (a ridiculously small sum for a traveler), and that it is M. Pavy who is to be my financial Providence, considering that it is to him that my mother has confided my little quarterly income of a thousand francs. Now at this point I must entrust you with a little secret, which at present is only known to two individuals, Messrs. Paccard and Roger (charming names for confidants, are not they?), and which I beg you to make known as quickly as possible to your brother. It concerns a little scrap of paper (which these rogues of bankers call a draft, I believe), for a thousand francs, by which Messrs. Paccard and Roger are authorized by my signature, which is at the bottom, to demand the above sum of a thousand francs (which my mother entrusted to M. Pavy in Paris) from M. Pavy, junior, living at La Glaciere at Lyons, after the 22nd of August, 1836. A thousand pardons for troubling you with these details, but I should never have had the courage to write direct to your brother, on account of my profound ignorance in money matters. You tell me that you passed part of the fine season in the country--why did not you arrange so as to tour for a little among the mountains of Switzerland? I should have had such pleasure in doing the honors, and Mademoiselle Merienne also...but don't let us speak any more of Mademoiselle Merienne (who, be it observed in parenthesis, must have already appeared a dozen times in this letter), for fear of again falling into inextricable parentheses. Au revoir then; in five weeks at latest I shall come and warm myself at your "glacier." F. Liszt 11. To Abbe de Lamennais [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.] My friend Louis de Ronchaud writes me word that he has had the honor of seeing you, dear Father, and that you were kind enough to give him a message of affectionate remembrance for me. I am very happy to know that you continue to keep this precious and friendly feeling for me, of which you have already given me so many proofs, and which I shall endeavour always to deserve as far as is in my power. I am still not very far advanced in my Italian journey. The beauty of these parts, the necessity of writing with some little continuance, and also, if all be said, some altogether unexpected successes, have kept me in Milan and the neighborhood (Como and the delicious shores of the lake) much longer than I had foreseen. As regards musical matters, the presence of Rossini, whom I frequently see, gives a certain impetus to this country. I have been singularly well received here, so I shall probably pass the greater part of the winter here, and shall not start for Venice till towards the beginning of March. Thence I shall go to Florence and Rome, where I expect I shall stay a good long time. D. has no doubt talked to you of our stay at Nohant last summer. I think that he got rid there of a good many old prejudices about me. It was a sweet satisfaction to me to learn through him how good and indulgent you have been towards me on several occasions, even so far as to contradict and defend me warmly against him and against others who knew me still less. I had charged our secret friend to defend me in his turn from a slight wrong which I had, only apparently, committed, but even "apparently" is too much, and I think I have entirely justified myself with regard to it. I don't know whether in his noble carelessness he will have thought of it. However that may be, I shall always count on your paternal affection more than all the rest. What can I say to you of Italy that you do not know, and that you have not said in such manner as to cause despair for ever to the makers of observations!--It is always the same status quo, the excellent and perfectly happy government that you know.--I am hoping and longing ardently for your next book [probably "Le Livre du Peuple": Paris, 1837], which I shall read with my whole heart and soul, as I have read all that you have written for four years. I shall owe you just so many more good and noble emotions. Will they remain for ever sterile? Will my life be for ever tainted with this idle uselessness which weighs upon me? Will the hour of devotion and of manly action never come? Am I condemned without respite to this trade of a Merry Andrew and to amuse in drawing-rooms? Whatever may be my poor and humble destiny, do not ever doubt my heart. Do not ever doubt the deep respect and unalterable devotion with which you have inspired me. Yours for ever, F. Liszt Como, December 18th, 1837 12. To Breitkopf and Hartel in Leipzig [Autograph in the possession of Herr Hermann Scholtz, Kammervirtuoso in Dresden.] I thank you much, gentlemen, for the obliging letter that you have written me. Up to the present time I have had none but the most pleasant business relations with Mr. Hofmeister, who has the kindness to publish the greater part of my works in Germany. As I do not know very much of the laws which regulate literary and musical proprietorship in Saxony, I had spoken to him about the Beethoven Symphonies, of which I have undertaken the arrangement, or, more correctly speaking, the pianoforte score. To tell the truth, this work has, nevertheless, cost me some trouble; whether I am right or wrong, I think it sufficiently different from, not to say superior to, those of the same kind which have hitherto appeared. The recent publication of the same Symphonies, arranged by Mr. Kalkbrenner, makes me anxious that mine should not remain any longer in a portfolio. I intend also to finger them carefully, which, in addition to the indication of the different instruments (which is important in this kind of work), will most certainly make this edition much more complete. If, then, as I imagine, it is impossible for Mr. Hofmeister to publish them, I shall be very grateful if you will undertake it. The reputation of your house is European, and I perfectly remember having had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Raymond Hartel in Paris. It will be a pleasure to me to conclude this little business with you, at the rate of eight francs a page. Up to the present time I have only finished three Symphonies (that in A major), but I could promise to let you have the others successively, according as you might wish, or I could limit my work to the four most important Symphonies (if I may express my opinion), namely, the Pastoral, C minor, A major, and the Eroica. I think those are the ones which are most effective on the piano. I start tomorrow for Vienna, where I expect to remain till the end of April. Please address to me to the care of Mr. Tobias Haslinger till the 25th of April, and after that to Mr. Ricordi, Milan, who has undertaken to forward me all my letters while I am in Italy. My compliments and affectionate thanks. F. Liszt 13. To Robert Schumann [Addressed to the celebrated German Tone-poet (1810-1856). Liszt had spoken of Schumann's Op. 5, 11, and 14 in the Gazette Musicale, 1837, with equal enthusiasm and understanding, which soon brought the two together.] [Without a date; received by R. S. May 5th, 1838.] My dear Monsieur Schumann, I shall not attempt to tell you how grateful and touched I am by your friendly letter. Mademoiselle Wieck, whom I have been so happy as to meet here, will express to you, better than I can, all the sympathy, all the admiring affection I have for you. I have been such a nomad latterly that the pieces you were kind enough to address to me at Milan only reached me on the eve of my departure from Venice about a fortnight ago; and since then we have been talking so much of you, day and night, that it hardly occurred to me to write to you. Today, however, to my great astonishment, I get a fresh token of your friendly remembrance, and I certainly will not delay thanking you many times for it, so I have just left a charming party of very pretty women in order to write these few lines to you. But the truth is you need hardly thank me for this little sacrifice, for it is a great pleasure to me to be able to have a little chat with you. The "Carneval" and the "Fantasiestucke" have interested me excessively. I play them really with delight, and God knows that I can't say as much of many things. To speak frankly and freely, it is absolutely only Chopin's compositions and yours that have a powerful interest for me. The rest do not deserve the honor of being mentioned...at least, with a few exceptions,--to be conciliatory, like Eusebius. In six weeks to two months I shall send you my twelve Studies and a half-dozen of "Fantasiestucke" ("Impressions et Poemes")--I consider them less bad than others of my making. I shall be happy to think that they do not displease you. May I confess to you that I was not very much struck with Henselt's Studies, and that I found them not up to their reputation? I don't know whether you share my opinion, but they appear to me, on the whole, very careless. They are pretty to listen to, they are very pretty to look at, the effect is excellent, the edition (thanks to our friend Hofmeister) is most carefully done; but, all counted, I question whether H. is anything but a distinguished mediocrity. [How highly Liszt thought, later on, of Henselt's Concerto and other of his compositions is well known, and is spoken of in a subsequent letter to Baroness Wrangel, in May, 1883.] For the rest, he is very young, and will doubtless develop. Let us, at least, hope so. I am extremely sorry that I cannot come and pay you a little visit at Leipzig at present. It is one of my keenest desires to make your personal acquaintance and to pass some days with you. But as that is not possible now, let us, at least, try not to be entirely separated, and let us combat, as far as we can, the laziness about writing, which is, I think, equally in us both. In a fortnight I am returning to Venice. I shall be back in Milan at the time of the coronation (towards the end of August). Next winter I expect to pass in Rome, if the cholera or some other plague does not stop it. I will not induce you to come to Italy. Your sympathies would be too deeply wounded there. If they have even heard that Beethoven and Weber ever existed, it is as much as they have done. Will you not have what you have sent me printed? Haslinger would have it gladly, I think, and it would be a great pleasure to me to see my name associated with yours. If I might make a request, I would ask you to write some trios, or a quintet or septet. It seems to me that you would do that admirably, and for a long time nothing remarkable in that line has been published. If ever you determine to do so, let me know at once, as I should be anxious to have the honor of making them known to the public. Adieu, my dear Monsieur Schumann; keep me always in affectionate remembrance, and accept once more my warm sympathy and devotion. F. Liszt 14. To the "Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde" in Vienna [Society of Musical Dilettanti, or Amateur Musical Society. Autograph in the Archives of the Society in Vienna] Gentlemen, I am extremely grateful for the honor you have done me in admitting me among you as a member of the Vienna Musik-Verein [Musical Union]. I cannot, unfortunately, flatter myself that I have as yet deserved this distinction, but allow me to say that it will not be my fault if I do not become worthy of it. If ever the occasion should offer in which I can be agreeable or useful to the Society of the Musik-Verein, be assured that I shall gladly avail myself of it, and that you will henceforth have a claim on my gratitude and devotion. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Yours faithfully, F. Liszt Venice, June 1st, 1838 15. To Simon Lowy in Vienna [Autograph in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.--Addressed to a Vienna banker, an intimate friend of Liszt The "Soirees de Vienne," composed on Schubert Valses, are dedicated to him.] I am very sensible, my dear sir, of your friendly remembrance. Your kind letter found me in the midst of the official hurly- burly of the coronation fetes. What business on earth had I to do with such an affair? I have not the least idea. Thank Heaven we are now at the end of it all, safe and sound, rejoicing, and sated with amusement! I found at Milan a certain number of my Vienna connections. One or two of the persons whom you will not mention to me (and whose anonymity I respect) were also there. I know that a great many of the people who approach me with a smile on their lips, and protestations of friendship on their tongues, have nothing better to do than to pull me to pieces as best they can as soon as they are outside my door. It is, moreover, the fate of all the world. I resign myself to it willingly, as I do to all the absurd and odious necessities of this lower world. There is, besides, just this much good in these sad experiences of various relations with men--which is, that one learns to relish and appreciate better the devotion of the few friends whom chance has thrown in your path. In a few days from now I shall start for Bologna, Florence, and Rome. In spite of all my desire to return to Vienna, where people have been so kind and indulgent to me, I do not yet see when I shall be able to get there. However this journey may be put off, I hope, nevertheless, my dear sir, that you will continue till then the affectionate feelings you so kindly entertain towards me. Receive in return my assurances of consideration and affectionate devotion. F. Liszt Milan, September 22nd, 1838 Will you be so good as to give the enclosed note to the charming woman who is good enough to remember me so kindly? 16. To M. Pacini, Music Publisher in Paris [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.] My Dear Monsieur Pacini, In two or three days at latest from now you will receive the manuscript for which you asked me for the book of the Hundred and One. [A collective work with contributions by celebrities of the day.] Mr. Hugot has kindly undertaken to bring it to you. As the title implies, it is an Etude (di Bravura) after Paganini. [Bravura Studies on Paganini's Capricci, arranged for the pianoforte, brought out by Haslinger, Vienna, in 1839. A second, newly arranged edition, dedicated to Clara Schumann, "Grandes Etudes de Paganini," was brought out by Breitkopf and Hartel in 1851.] You will oblige me by recommending the engraver to engrave it very spaciously. In addition, you had better, I think, reprint directly afterwards this Etude facilitee, which I have also sent you. This second arrangement is by M. Schumann, a young composer of very great merit. It is more within the reach of the general public, and also more exact than my paraphrase. Many apologies for having kept you waiting so long for such a small thing, and kind remembrances to Emilien. Yours affectionately, F. Liszt Please send the corrected proofs of this study to Haslinger, musical editor to the Court, at Graben, Vienna. I must have at least two corrected proofs. Prego! Prego!! [I beg!] leave only such mistakes as are absolutely necessary in order that an edition may be supposed to be correct. Padua, September 30th, 1838 17. To Breitkopf and Hartel. [This is the first of the Liszt letters extant in the archives of the firm.] I am really grieved, gentlemen, at the trouble you have been good enough to take about these unlucky Symphonies, and I hardly know how to express my acknowledgments. As I have already had the honor of telling you, Mr. Mori had been previously engaged to publish these Symphonies, and, as the steps you have taken have not been crowned with success, I will keep to this first publisher, with whom I have every reason to be satisfied up to now. You can then publish this work in two or three months from now. [Pianoforte scores of the C minor and Pastoral Symphonies of Beethoven.] Only it is essential that I should correct the last proof, so that the edition may be absolutely correct. I also wish to add the fingering to several passages, to make them easier for amateurs. Be so good, therefore, as to send me, through the Embassy (or by any other opportunity which is not too expensive), two proofs to Rome, where I shall be in about twelve days, and where I expect to remain till the middle of March. I hope, gentlemen, that you will not have cause to regret the obliging advances that you have made to me in this matter, and for which I am sincerely grateful to you. If you will be so good as to add to the proofs of the Beethoven Symphonies such of the songs of Beethoven (or Weber) as you would like me to transcribe for piano solo, I will then give you a positive answer as to that little work, which I shall be delighted to do for you, but to which I cannot assent beforehand, not knowing of which songs you are the proprietors. If "Leyer und Schwert" was published by you, I will do that with pleasure. I think that these songs, or at any rate four or five of them, would be rather satisfactory for the piano. Accept, gentlemen, the expression of my high esteem. F. Liszt Florence, January 3rd, 1839 18. To Princess Christine Belgiojoso in Paris [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.-- Addressed to the celebrated writer and patriot. In 1837 a charity concert took place in her salons, at which Liszt and Thalberg both played.] It would be self-conceit in me, Princess, to complain of your silence. Your letters have always been for me a favor, a charm. I am not meaning to say that I have the slightest right to them. Nevertheless, as you do not reply to me any more, I hope you will at least permit me to tell you how very much I feel the very slightest marks of your kindness, and what a price I set upon your remembrance. Some numbers of the Gazette or Revue Musicale, which have accidentally fallen into my hands at the house of one of my Russian friends (for in this happy country of the Arts, and of music in particular, you can well imagine that no one is foolish enough to spend a thirty francs' subscription on the Revue Musicale), have informed me that you had decidedly raised altar for altar, and made your charming salon echo with magnificent harmonies. I confess that this is perhaps the one regret of my winter. I should so immensely have liked to be there to admire you, to applaud you. Several people who had the honor of being present at these choice evenings have spoken to me about them with enthusiasm. What a contrast to the tiresome musical soliloquies (I do not know what other name to give to this invention of mine) with which I contrived to gratify the Romans, and which I am quite capable of importing to Paris, so unbounded does my impudence become! Imagine that, wearied with warfare, not being able to compose a programme which would have common sense, I have ventured to give a series of concerts all by myself, affecting the Louis XIV. style, and saying cavalierly to the public, "The concert is--myself." For the curiosity of the thing I copy one of the programmes of the soliloquies for you:-- 1. Overture to William Tell, performed by M. L. 2. Reminiscences of the Puritani. Fantaisie composed and performed by the above-mentioned! 3. Etudes and fragments by the same to the same! 4. Improvisation on themes given--still by the same. And that was all; neither more nor less, except lively conversation during the intervals, and enthusiasm if there was room for it. A propos of enthusiasm, I ought at least to talk to you of St. Peter's. That is the proper thing to do when one writes from Rome. But, in the first place, I am writing to you from Albano, whence I can only discern the dome, and, secondly, this poor St. Peter's has been so disguised, so embellished by papier-mache wreaths, horrid curtains at alcoves, etc., etc., all in honor of the five or six last saints whom His Holiness has canonised, that I try to put away the recollection of it. Happily there have not been any workers of miracles to glorify at the Coliseum and the Campo Vaccino, otherwise it would have been impossible to live in Rome. If nothing occurs to prevent it, I expect to pass the end of next winter (March and April) in Paris. Will you permit me then to fill up all the gaps in my correspondence from the Rue d'Anjou? [Here the Princess lived.] I count always upon your friendly and indulgent kindness. But shall you extend this so far as to give me a sign of life before the close of my stay in Italy? I do not know. In any case, letters addressed poste restante, Florence, will reach me till the 1st of next September. I beg you, Madame la Princesse, to accept the expression of my profound and most devoted respect. F. Liszt Albano, June 4th, 1839 Will you be good enough to remember me affectionately to (Madame) your sister and to Mr. d'Aragon? 19. To Robert Schumann [From a copy from the Royal Library in Berlin.] Albano, June 5th, 1839 My dear Monsieur Schumann, At the risk of appearing very monotonous, I must again tell you that the last pieces you were so kind as to send me to Rome appear to me admirable both in inspiration and composition. The "Fantaisie" dedicated to me is a work of the highest kind--and I am really proud of the honor you have done me in dedicating to me so grand a composition. Op. 17, C dur. With the motto:-- "Durch alle Tone tonet Im bunten Erdentraum Ein leiser Ton gezogen Fur den, der heimlich lauschet." ("Through all the sounds of nature, In earth's fair dream of joy, An under-current soundeth For him whose ears can hear."] I mean, therefore, to work at it and penetrate it through and through, so as to make the utmost possible effect with it. As to the "Kinderscenen," I owe to them one of the greatest pleasures of my life. You know, or you don't know, that I have a little girl of three years old, whom everybody agrees in considering angelic (did you ever hear such a commonplace?). Her name is Blandine-Rachel, and her surname Moucheron. [Pet name; literally, "little fly."] It goes without saying that she has a complexion of roses and milk, and that her fair golden hair reaches to her feet just like a savage. She is, however, the most silent child, the most sweetly grave, the most philosophically gay in the world. I have every reason to hope also that she will not be a musician, from which may Heaven preserve her! Well, my dear Monsieur Schumann, two or three times a week (on fine and good days!) I play your "Kinderscenen" to her in the evening; this enchants her, and me still more, as you may imagine, so that often I go over the first repeat twenty times without going any further. Really I think you would be satisfied with this success if you could be a witness of it! I think I have already expressed to you, in one of my former letters, the desire I felt to see you write some ensemble pieces, Trios, Quintets, or Septets. Will you pardon me for pressing this point again? It seems to me that you would be more capable of doing it than any one else nowadays. And I am convinced that success, even commercial success, would not be wanting. If between now and next winter you could complete some ensemble work, it would be a real pleasure to me to make it known in Paris, where that sort of composition, when well played, has more chance of success than you perhaps think. I would even gladly undertake to find a publisher for it, if you liked, which would moreover in no wise prevent you from disposing of it for Germany. In the interim I mean to play in public your "Carnaval," and some of the "Davidsbundlertanze" and of the "Kinderscenen." The "Kreisleriana," and the "Fantaisie" which is dedicated to me, are more difficult of digestion for the public. I shall reserve them till later. Up to the present time I only know the following works of yours:-- Impromptus on a theme by Clara Wieck. Pianoforte Sonata, dedicated to Clara. Concerto without orchestra. "Etudes Symphoniques" "Davidsbundlertanze" "Kreisleriana." "Carnaval." "Kinderscenen" and my "Fantaisie." If you would have the kindness to complete your works to me it would be a great pleasure to me; I should like to have them bound all together in three or four volumes. Haslinger, on his side, will send you my Etudes and my other publications as they come out. What you tell me of your private life has interested and touched me deeply. If I could, I know not how, be in the least pleasant or useful to you in these circumstances, dispose of me as you will. Whatever happens, count on my absolute discretion and sincere devotion. If I am not asking too much, tell me if it is Clara of whom you speak. But if this question should seem to you misplaced, do not answer it. Have you met at Leipzig Mr. Frank, [Dr. Hermann Frank edited Brockhaus' Allgemeine Zeitung for a year.] at the present moment editor of the Leipzig Allgemeine Zeitung? From the little I know of him (for he has been much more intimate with Chopin and Hiller than with me) I think he is capable of understanding you. He has left a charming impression behind him in Rome. If you see him, give him my affectionate regards. My plans remain the same. I still intend to be in Vienna at the beginning of December, and in Paris at the end of February. I shall be capable of coming to look you up in Leipzig if you will let me make the journey from Paris with you. Try! Adieu, my dear Monsieur Schumann; write soon (address care of Ricordi, Florence: I shall be in the neighborhood of Lucca till the middle of September), and depend always on my sincere esteem and lively affection. Yours in all friendship, F. Liszt 20. To Breitkopf and Hartel [Milan, June, 1839] Gentleman, About three weeks ago I gave to Mr. Ricordi (who was on his way to Rome) the proofs of the two Symphonies you addressed to me. I hope they have reached you by now. Forgive me for having kept them so long, and also for having corrected them with so much care. But, firstly, they did not reach me till about the 20th of February, and then I did not know how to send them to you direct, for the diligences in this happy country are so insecure. I am therefore of necessity (though very unwillingly) behindhand. Allow me to ask you for a second proof (for it is of great consequence to me that the edition should be as correct as possible), and this time I will beg you to send me three proofs of each Symphony, so that I may forward one to Paris and the other to London. Probably there will not be any more corrections to make in this second proof, and in that case I will let you know in two words (without returning your proof), telling you at the same time the date of publication. My intention being to visit Vienna, Munich, and perhaps Leipzig at the beginning of next year (before going to England in the month of April), I shall take advantage of this opportunity to let the Symphonies be heard at my concerts, so as to give them a certain publicity. I have looked through the Lieder you have been good enough to send me. I shall certainly do the "Adelaide," however difficult it may seem to me to transcribe simply and elegantly. As regards the others, I am afraid I cannot find the necessary time. Moreover, that good Haslinger overwhelms me with Schubert. I have just sent him twenty-four more new songs ("Schwanengesang" and "Winterreise"), and for the moment I am rather tired with this work. Would you be so kind as to send me, at the same time with the proofs of the Beethoven Symphonies, Mr. Mendelssohn's "Preludes and Fugues"? It is an extremely remarkable work, and it has been impossible to get it in Italy. I shall be greatly obliged if you will send it me. When you see Mr. Schumann please remember me very kindly to him. I have received the "Fantaisie" which he has done me the honor to dedicate to me, and the "Kinderscenen." Don't you think you ought to publish a book of Studies by him? I should be extremely curious to make acquaintance with them. All his works interest me in a high degree. It would be difficult for me to say as much of many of the compositions of my respected colleagues, with some exceptions. I beg to remain, Gentlemen, Yours most sincerely, F. Liszt Address the Symphonies to Mr. Ricordi, Florence. From the 15th of June till the 1st of September I shall be in the neighborhood of Lucca. Ricordi's address is the safest. 21. To the Beethoven Committee at Bonn [Printed in L. Ramann's Biography of Liszt, vol. 1] Gentlemen, As the subscription for Beethoven's monument is only getting on slowly, and as the carrying out of this undertaking seems to be rather far distant, I venture to make a proposal to you, the acceptance of which would make me very happy. [In Bonn, Beethoven's birthplace, a committee had been formed to erect a Beethoven monument. Yet, in spite of the assent which met the proposal, the contributions flowed in so meagrely--Paris, for example, contributed only 424 francs 90 centimes--that Liszt, on reading this in a paper, immediately formed the noble resolution mentioned in the above letter. "Such a niggardly almsgiving, got together with such trouble and sending round the hat, must not be allowed to help towards building our Beethoven's monument!" he wrote to Berlioz. Thus the German nation has in great measure to thank Franz Liszt for the monument erected to its greatest composer at Bonn.] I offer myself to make up, from my own means, the sum still wanting for the erection of the monument, and ask no other privilege than that of naming the artist who shall execute the work. That artist is Bartolini of Florence, who is universally considered the first sculptor in Italy. I have spoken to him about the matter provisionally, and he assures me that a monument in marble (which would cost about fifty to sixty thousand francs) could be finished in two years, and he is ready to begin the work at once. I have the honor to be, etc., Franz Liszt Pisa, October 3rd, 1839 22. To Count Leo Festetics in Pest [Printed in F. von Schober's "Letters about Liszt's Sojourn in Hungary."] Dear Count, Shall you like to have me again at Pest this year? I know not. In any case you are threatened with my presence from the 18th to the 22nd of next December. I shall come to you a little older, a little more matured, and, permit me to say, more finished an artist, than I was when you saw me last year, for since that time I have worked enormously in Italy. I hope you have kept me in remembrance, and that I may always count on your friendship, which is dear to me. What joy, what an immense happiness it will be to be once more in my own country, to feel myself surrounded by such noble and vigorous sympathies, which, thank God, I have done nothing to forfeit in my distant and wandering life. What feelings, what emotions will then fill my breast! All this, dear Count, I will not attempt to express to you, for in truth I should not know how. Let it suffice you to know that the love of my country, of my chivalrous and grand country, has ever lived most deeply in my heart; and that, if unhappily it does not seem likely that I can ever show to my country what a love and devotion I feel for it, the sentiments will remain none the less unchanged in my heart. But I will not tire you any longer with myself and my sentiments. I forgot to tell you that for nearly a week I have been confined to my bed with a very severe fever, which might easily have become more serious still. My second concert was obliged to be put off on account of it. Today my doctor has given me permission to play on Wednesday. I don't really know whether I shall be able to do it, for my hand trembles fearfully. Excuse this horrible writing, but I did want to send you a few words. It is a sort of anticipation of Pest, which is sweet to me. A revoir then very soon, dear Count; meanwhile believe me, as ever, yours most sincerely, F. Liszt November 24th, 1839, in bed 23. To Clara Wieck [The great pianist, afterwards Schumann's wife.] Pest, December 25th, 1839 How grateful I am, Mademoiselle, for the kind remembrance you keep of me! And how much I am already rejoicing at the thought of seeing you and hearing you again soon in Leipzig! I was so vexed not to be in Paris last winter when I knew you were going to spend some time there. Perhaps I should have been able to be of some little use to you there. You know that, at all times and in every country, I shall always be at your service. I should become too lengthy if I allowed myself to reply in detail to your kind questions about my new compositions. I worked immensely hard in Italy. Without exaggeration I think I have written four to five hundred pages of pianoforte music. If you have patience to hear half a quarter of them I shall be delighted to play them to you, so so. The "Studies after Paganini," which are dedicated to you, will only appear in two months' time; but I will bring you the proofs, which have long been corrected, to Leipzig. Once more many thanks, and many tender and respectful wishes for everything that can contribute to your happiness. And above all a bientot. Yours in admiration and sympathy, F. Liszt 24. To Robert Schumann in Leipzig [Autograph in the Royal Library in Berlin.] Dresden, March 27th, 1840 My dear Schumann, It is all splendid. Only I should prefer to play the "Hexameron" last, so as to finish with orchestra. Please, therefore, have the "Etudes" and the "Carnaval" put after the Mendelssohn Concerto! [Refers to Liszt's third concert in Leipzig, on March 30th, 1840, for the benefit of the Orchestral Pension Fund.] Best remembrances to Mendelssohn and Hiller; and believe me yours ever, F. Liszt I shall certainly return Monday morning, for on Sunday I am giving a concert for the poor here. But if it should de possible for me to come on Sunday...but I doubt it. [Together with this letter a friend, Carl K[ragen?], writes to Schumann: "He [Liszt] has played me the glorious Mendelssohn Concerto. It was divine! Tomorrow Tieck is to read Faust for Liszt at my mother's house, and Liszt is to play at our house with Lipinski!, Do come for it! Ah, if you could only induce Mendelssohn and his wife to come too!"] 25. To Franz von Schober in Vienna [The autographs of all the letters in this collection to Schober are in the possession of Fran Babette Wolf at Dresden.-Addressed to the poet and writer, an intimate and worthy friend of Franz Schubert. He became Councillor of Legation to Weimar, and died at Dresden in 1882.] Metz, April 3rd, 1840 I did not get any news from you at Leipzig, dear Schober, as I expected. I am afraid I was very indiscreet in asking you to be so good as to undertake this work, which I should have valued so much, coming from you. [In answer to the distorted reports in various newspapers of Liszt's visit to Hungary (January, 1840), Schober, who had been an eyewitness, thought it right to clear up the misrepresentations, which he did in the form of "Letters about Liszt's Sojourn in Hungary"; these he published, but much later (Berlin, Schlesinger, 1843)] But I will not speak of it any more. If by any chance you have already done it I should be grateful to you to send it me--otherwise we will not speak of it any more. Do you know that I have been pursued by one constant regret during my journey, the regret not to have induced you to accompany me? Your society has always been beneficial and strengthening to me: I do not know why, but I imagine that we should live smoothly together. Your qualities, your faults (if you have any), your character and temper, all please me and attach me to you. You know that I flatter myself I can understand and appreciate you...Should you see any great difficulty in joining me somewhere next autumn-at Venice, for example--and in making a European tour with me? Answer me frankly on this matter. And once more, the question of money need not be considered. As long as we are together (and I should like you to have at least three free years before you) my purse will be yours, on the sole condition that you consent to undertake the management of our expenses,--and that you are thoroughly convinced beforehand of the gratitude I shall feel towards you. Excuse me, my dear good friend, for entering so plainly into matters, but we have talked together too openly, it seems to me, for it to be possible that your delicate feeling on certain points should be wounded by this. I have sent back Kiss, of Dresden. He is a good fellow, but a little awkward, and wanting in a certain point of honor, without which a man is not a man as I understand the word. So I am alone now, and am not going to have any one tacked on to me. A former pupil of mine, Monsieur Hermann, has undertaken to arrange my concerts, which is a great relief to me. A propos of concerts, I gave six (in nine days!) at Prague, three at Dresden, and the same number at Leipzig (in twelve days)--so I am perfectly tired out, and feel great need of rest. That was good, wasn't it? Adieu, my dear good friend-let me hear from you soon (address 19, Rue Pigalle, Paris), and depend entirely upon me--nunc et semper. Yours ever sincerely, F. Liszt Will you be so good as to go to Diabelli's [Music publisher in Vienna] when you pass by, and advise him again not to publish the third part of the Hungarian Melodies (which I sent him by Hartel) without first sending me a proof to Paris to correct. Adieu. Best remembrances to Kriehuber [A well-known Vienna painter and lithographer, from whom a number of Liszt portraits have come.] and Lowy. Why does not the latter write to me? 26. To Maurice Schlesinger, Editor of the Gazette Musicale in Paris [Given by L. Ramann, "Franz Liszt," vol. ii., i.] Sir, Allow me to protest against an inexact assertion in your last number but one:-- "Messieurs Liszt and Cramer have asked for the Legion of Honor," etc. I do not know if M. Cramer (who has just been nominated) has obtained the cross. In any case I think that you, like every one else, will approve of a nomination so perfectly legitimate. As to myself, if it be true that my name has figured in the list of candidates, this can only have occurred entirely without my knowledge. It has always seemed to me that distinctions of this sort could only be accepted, but never "asked for." I am, sir, etc., F. Liszt London, May 14th, 1840 27. To Franz von Schober [London, May or June, 1840] My worthy friend, A fortnight ago my mother wrote me word that she had given several letters, which had come for me from Germany, to a gentleman who was to bring them to me to London. I suppose there was one from you among the number, but up to now I have not received anything. Allow me to repeat once more the request, which I have already made to you, to come for some time with me (a year or two, and more if you can); for I feel deeply that, the more we are separated by time and space, the more my thoughts and my heart go out to you. I have rarely felt this so strongly, and my wish to feel you settled with me grows daily stronger. Moreover the persuasion that I feel that we should pass a happy and serious life together, makes me again press you further. Try then to be at liberty as soon as possible, and once for all make a frank and friendly resolve. I assure you that it will not be difficult to ameliorate, by each other, our two lives, which in their different ways are sad and bad thus separated. Let me have two words in reply on this point--which, to tell the truth, is the only important one for us both at this moment. Speak quite freely to me, and depend on me thoroughly. Yours ever, F. Liszt Address care of Erard, 18, Great Marlborough Street. Need I again assure you that any question will not be a question between us? 28. To Franz von Schober Stonehenge, Salisbury, August 29th, 1840 It is with an unspeakable feeling of sadness and vexation that I write to you today, my dear good friend! Your letter had done me so much good; I was so happy at the thought of our meeting at the end of the autumn at latest; I wanted so to feel that I could rest on your arm, and that your heart, so full of kindness and brotherly help, was near me,--and, lo and behold! I am obliged to give it up, or at least to put it off... An unfortunate engagement which I have just renewed, and which will keep me in England till the end of January, makes it impossible for me to say to you the one word which I wish to say, "Come!"-- England is not like any other country; the expenses are enormous. I really dare not ask you to travel with me here, for it would almost ruin us. Moreover we should hardly be able to be together, for I have three or four compulsory companions, from whom it is impossible for me to separate. I hoped to have done with all that by the beginning of October, but now I have to begin again in the middle of November. If I have time to make my journey to Russia this year it will be the utmost I can do, but it is a journey that I am in a way obliged to make after the gracious invitation of Her Majesty the Empress at Ems. On the 15th of next May I return again to London, probably by the steamer coming direct from St. Petersburg. Where shall I find you in a year--fifteen months? It is very possible that I shall come and look for you in Vienna, but then I shall assuredly not leave without taking you with me. I have some thoughts of spending the following winter at Constantinople. I am tired of the West; I want to breathe perfumes, to bask in the sun, to exchange the smoke of coal for the sweet smoke of the narghileh [Turkish pipe]. In short, I am pining for the East! O my morning land! O my Aborniko!-- My uncle writes that you have been very good and obliging to him. I thank you warmly.--Do you meet Castelli from time to time? When you see him beg him from me to translate the article I published in the Paris "Revue Musicale" (of August 23rd) on Paganini, and to get it put into the "Theater-Zeitung". I should be very glad also if it could be translated into Hungarian, for the Hirnok (excuse me if I make a mess of the word!), but I do not know who could do it. A propos of Hungarian! I shall always value highly the work on my sojourn in Pest. Send it me as soon as you possibly can, and address it to Madame la Comtesse d'Agoult, 10, Rue Neuve des Mathurins, Paris. Most affectionate remembrances to Kriehuber. His two portraits of me have been copied in London. They are without doubt the best. Adieu, my dear excellent Schober. In my next letter I shall ask you about a matter of some consequence. It is about a Cantata for Beethoven, which I should like to set to music and to have it given at the great Festival which we expect to organize in 1842 for the inauguration of the Statue at Bonn. Yours ever most affectionately, F. Liszt 29. To Buloz [Published in Ramann's "Franz Liszt," vol. ii., I.] Editor of the Revue des Deux Mondes. Sir, In your Revue Musicale for October last my name was mixed up with the outrageous pretensions and exaggerated success of some executant artists; I take the liberty to address a few remarks to you on this subject. [The enthusiastic demonstrations which had been made to him in Hungary, his native land, had been put into a category with the homage paid to singers and dancers, and the bestowal of the sabre had been turned into special ridicule. Liszt repelled this with justifiable pride.] The wreaths thrown at the feet of Mesdemoiselles Elssler and Pixis by the amateurs of New York and Palermo are striking manifestations of the enthusiasm of a public; the sabre which was given to me at Pest is a reward given by a NATION in an entirely national form. In Hungary, sir, in that country of antique and chivalrous manners, the sabre has a patriotic signification. It is the special token of manhood; it is the weapon of every man who has a right to carry a weapon. When six of the chief men of note in my country presented me with it among the general acclamations of my compatriots, whilst at the same moment the towns of Pest and Oedenburg conferred upon me the freedom of the city, and the civic authorities of Pest asked His Majesty for letters of nobility for me, it was an act to acknowledge me afresh as a Hungarian, after an absence of fifteen years; it was a reward of some slight services rendered to Art in my country; it was especially, and so I felt it, to unite me gloriously to her by imposing on me serious duties, and obligations for life as man and as artist. I agree with you, sir, that it was, without doubt, going far beyond my deserts up to the present time. Therefore I saw in that solemnity the expression of a hope far more than of a satisfaction. Hungary hailed in me the man from whom she expects artistic illustriousness, after all the illustrious soldiers and politicians she has so plentifully produced. As a child I received from my country precious tokens of interest, and the means of going abroad to develop my artistic vocation. When grown up, and after long years, the young man returns to bring her the fruits of his work and the future of his will, the enthusiasm of the hearts which open to receive him and the expression of a national joy must not be confounded with the frantic demonstrations of an audience of amateurs. In placing these two things side by side it seems tome there is something which must wound a just national pride and sympathies by which I am honored. Be so kind as to insert these few lines in your next issue, and believe me, sir, Yours obediently, Franz Liszt Hamburg, October 26th, 1840 30. To Franz von Schober I will write German to you, dear Schober, in order to tell you all the quicker how much your letter pleased me. I have to thank it for a really happy hour; and that comes so rarely in my intolerable, monotonous life! For a fortnight past I have again put my neck into the English yoke. Every day which God gives--a concert, with a journey, previously, of thirty to fifty miles. And so it must continue at least till the end of January. What do you say to that?-- If I am not more than half-dead, I must still go at the end of February to Berlin and Petersburg,--and come back to London by the first steamer at the beginning of May. Then I think I shall take a rest. Where and how I do not yet know, and it depends entirely upon the Pecuniary results of my journeys. I should like to go to Switzerland, and thence to Venice, but I can't yet say anything definite. .--. I have today written a long letter to Leo Festetics. I am hungering and thirsting to go back to Hungary. Every recollection of it has taken deep root in my soul...And yet I cannot go back! I am grieved that you can tell me nothing better of Lannoy. I cannot understand how that is possible. The news of the Queen has given me great pleasure--if you hear anything more about her let me know. I have a kind of weakness for her. About the Cantata I will write to you fully later. Farewell, and be happy if possible, dear Schober; write again soon, and remain ever my friend. F. L. Excuse the spelling and writing of these lines! You know that I never write German; Tobias [Tobias Haslinger, the Vienna music publisher.] is, I think, the only one who gets German letters from me. Manchester, December 5th, 1840 31. To Breitkopf and Hartel London, May 7th, 1841 Schlesinger has just told me that Mendelssohn's Melodies which I sent you from London have come out. I can't tell you, my dear Mr. Hartel, how much I am put out by this precipitate publication. Independently of the material wrong it does me (for before sending them to you these Melodies were sold in London and Paris), I am thus unable to keep my word to Beale and Richault, who expected to publish them simultaneously with you. The evil being irremediable I have only thought how to get a prompt vengeance out of it. You will tell me later on if you think it was really a Christian vengeance. The matter is this: I have just added a tremendous cadenza, three pages long, in small notes, and anentire Coda, almost as long, to Beethoven's "Adelaide". I played it all without being hissed at the concert given at the Paris Conservatoire for the Beethoven Monument, and I intend to play it in London, and in Germany and Russia. Schlesinger has printed all this medley, such as it is. Will you do the same? In that case, as I care chiefly for your edition, I will beg you to have the last Coda printed in small notes as an Ossia, without taking away anything from the present edition, so that the purists can play the integral text only, if the commentary is displeasing to them. It was certainly a very delicate matter to touch "Adelaide", and yet it seemed to me necessary to venture. Have I done it with propriety and taste? Competent judges will decide. In any case I beg you not to let any one but Mr. Schumann look over your edition. In conclusion allow me to remind you that I was rather badly paid for "Adelaide" formerly, and if you should think proper to send me a draft on a London bank, fair towards you and myself, I shall always receive it with a "new pleasure"--to quote the favorite words of His Majesty the King of the French. With kind regards, believe me, my dear sir, yours most sincerely, F. Liszt Be so kind as to remember me very affectionately to Mendelssohn. As for Schumann, I shall write to him direct very shortly. 32. To Simon Lowy In Vienna [Autograph in the possession of Madame Emilie Dore in Vienna.] London, May 20th, 1841 I am still writing to you from England, my dear friend. Since my last letter (end of December, I think) I have completed my tour of the three kingdoms (by which I lose, by the way, 1000 pounds sterling net, on 1500 pounds which my engagement brought me!), have ploughed my way through Belgium, with which I have every reason to be satisfied, and have sauntered about in Paris for six weeks. This latter, I don't hide it from you, has been a real satisfaction to my self-love. On arriving there I compared myself (pretty reasonably, it seems to me) to a man playing ecarte for the fifth point. Well, I have had king and vole,--seven points rather than five! [The "fifth" is the highest in this game, so Liszt means that he won.] My two concerts alone, and especially the third, at the Conservatoire, for the Beethoven Monument, are concerts out of the ordinary run, such as I only can give in Europe at the present moment. The accounts in the papers can only have given you a very incomplete idea. Without self-conceit or any illusion, I think I may say that never has so striking an effect, so complete and so irresistible, been produced by an instrumentalist in Paris. A propos of newspapers, I am sending you, following this, the article which Fetis (formerly my most redoubtable antagonist) has just published in the "Gazette Musicale". It is written very cleverly, and summarises the question well. If Fischhof [A musician, a Professor at the Vienna Conservatorium.] translated it for Bauerle [Editor of the Theater-Zeitung (Theatrical Times).] it would make a good effect, I fancy. However, do what you like with it. I shall certainly be on the Rhine towards the end of July, and shall remain in that neighborhood till September. If Fischhof came there I should be delighted to see him and have a talk with him. Till then give him my most affectionate compliments, and tell him to write me a few lines before he starts. In November I shall start for Berlin, and shall pass the whole of next winter in Russia. Haslinger's behaviour to me is more than inexcusable. The dear man is doing a stupidity of which he will repent soon. Never mind; I will not forget how devoted he was to me during my first stay in Vienna. Would you believe that he has not sent me a word in reply to four consecutive letters I have written to him? If you pass by Graben will you be so kind as to tell him that I shall not write to him any more, but that I expect from him, as an honest man of business, if not as a friend, a line to tell me the fate of two manuscripts ("Hongroises," and "Canzone Veneziane") which I sent him. I have just discovered a new mine of "Fantaisies"--and I am working it hard. "Norma," "Don Juan," "Sonnambula," "Maometto," and "Moise" heaped one on the top of the other, and "Freischutz" and "Robert le Diable" are pieces of 96, and even of 200, like the old canons of the Republic of Geneva, I think. When I have positively finished my European tour I shall come and play them to you in Vienna, and however tired they may be there of having applauded me so much, I still feel the power to move this public, so intelligent and so thoroughly appreciative,--a public which I have always considered as the born judge of a pianist. Adieu, my dear Lowy--write soon, and address, till June 15th, at 18, Great Marlborough Street, and after that Paris. Yours most sincerely, F. Liszt Is the Ungher [Caroline Ungher, afterwards Ungher-Sabatier, a celebrated singer.] at Vienna? Will you kindly give or send to her the letter which follows? Have you, yes or no, sent off the two amber pieces which I gave you at the time of my departure? I have been to fetch them from the Embassy, but they were not there. Let me have two words in reply about this. 33. To Franz von Schober Truly, dear friend, I should like pages, days, years, to answer your dear letter. Seldom has anything touched me so deeply. Take heart for heart, and soul for soul,--and let us be for ever friends. You know how I am daily getting more concise; therefore nothing further about myself, nothing further about Berlin. Tomorrow, Thursday, at 2 o'clock, I start for Petersburg. I have spoken to A. It is impossible on both sides. When we meet and you are perfectly calm, we will go into details. I still hope to meet you next autumn, either in Florence or on the Rhine. Leo [Count Festetics] has written to me again. Write to me at once to Konigsberg, to tell me where to address my next letter to you. But write directly-simply your address. I have sent all the proofs of your pamphlet to Brockhaus. Be so good as to give him direct your final orders in regard to this publication. I shall be so pleased to have some copies of it while I am in Petersburg. The subject is very congenial to me; I thank you once more most warmly for it. One more shake of the hand in Germany, dearest friend, and in heartfelt love yours ever, F. Liszt Remember me kindly to Sabatier, [The husband of Caroline Ungher, the celebrated singer previously mentioned.] and don't quarrel with him about me. To Caroline always the same friendship and devotion. Berlin, March 3rd, 1842. 34. To the faculty of philosophy at the university of Konigsberg. [Printed in L. Ramann's "Franz Liszt," vol. ii., I.] Much Esteemed and Learned Gentlemen, It is in vain for me to attempt to express to you the deep and heartfelt emotion you have aroused in me by your rare mark of honor. The dignity of Doctor, granted by a Faculty in which, as in yours, men of European celebrity assemble, makes me happy, and would make me proud, were I not also convinced of the sense in which it is granted to me. I repeat that, with the honorable name of Teacher of Music (and I refer to music in its grand, complete, and ancient signification), by which you, esteemed gentlemen, dignify me, I am well aware that I have undertaken the duty of unceasing learning and untiring labour. In the constant fulfillment of this duty-to maintain the dignity of Doctor in a right and worthy manner, by propagating in word and deed the little portion of knowledge and technical skill which I can call my own, as a form of, and a means to, the True ["The beautiful is the glory of the true, Art is the radiancy of thought." (Author's note.)] and the Divine-- In the constant fulfillment of this duty, and in any results which are granted to me, the remembrance of your good wishes, and of the touching manner in which a distinguished member of your Faculty [Professors Rosenkranz and Jacobi invested Liszt with the Doctor's Diploma.] has informed me of them, will be a living support to me. Accept, gentlemen, the expression of my highest esteem and respect. F. Liszt Mittau, March 18th, 1842 35. To Court-Marshal Freiherr von Spiegel at Weimar [Given by L. Ramann, "Franz Liszt," vol. ii., 1.] Monsieur le Baron, It is very difficult to reply to so gracefully flattering a letter as your Excellency has been good enough to write to me. I must nevertheless say that I wish with all my heart and in all ways that I could answer it. I shall reach Weimar, bag and baggage, towards the middle of October, and if I succeed in communicating to others a little of the satisfaction I cannot fail to find there, thanks to the gracious kindness of their Highnesses and the friendly readiness of your Excellency, I shall be only too glad. Meanwhile I beg to remain, Monsieur le Baron, with respectful compliments, Yours obediently, Cologne; September 12th, 1862. F. Liszt 36. To Carl Filitsch. [Autograph in the possession of Count Albert Amadei in Vienna.-- Addressed to the talented young pianist, born at Hermannstadt in the Siebenburgen in 1830, died at Venice 1845, studied with Chopin and Liszt in Paris in 1842-43, and created a sensation with his concerts both there and in London, Vienna, and Italy. According to Lenz, Liszt said of him, "When the youngster goes travelling I shall shut up shop!"] Compiegne, Wednesday Morning [1842 or 1843]. Dearly beloved conjurer, How sorry I am to disappoint [Literally. "to make a false skip," a play-of-words with the next sentence.] you of our usual lesson tomorrow! Your "false skips" would be a great deal pleasanter to me! but, unless we could manage to put you where we could hear you from the towers of Notre Dame to the Cathedral of Cologne, there is a material impossibility in continuing our sort of lessons, considering that by tomorrow evening I shall already be at Cologne. If I return, or when I return--I really don't know. Whatever happens, keep a little corner of remembrance of me, and believe me ever yours affectionately, F. Liszt Affectionate remembrances to your brother Joseph. Farewell again. I embrace you affectionately. 37. To Franz von Schober in Paris Berlin, March 4th, 1844 You are a dear, faithful friend, and I thank you with all my heart for your kind letter. God reward you for your love to such a jaded, worn-out creature as I am! I can only assure you that I feel it deeply and gratefully, and that your words soothe many spasmodic annoyances. At the end of this month we shall certainly see each other in Paris. Villers [Alexander von Villers, a friend of Liszt's, attache of the Saxon Embassy in Vienna.] is coming also. In case Seydlitz is still there make my excuses to him, and tell him that, owing to my delay at Dresden, I only got his letter yesterday. I will answer him immediately, and will address to Lefebre, as he tells me to do. I have had several conferences with the H[ereditary] G[rand] D[uke] and Eckermann. [The editor of Goethe's "Gesprachen"] Our business seems to me to stand on a firm footing. Next autumn the knots will be ready to tie. [Refers probably to Schober's subsequent appointment at Weimar.] My room is too full. I have got a tremendous fit of Byron on. Be indulgent and kind as ever! Remember me to the Sabatiers, and stick to me! Yours most affectionately, F. Liszt 38. To Franz Kroll [Pupil and friend of Liszt's (1820-1877); since 1849 settled in Berlin as a pianoforte teacher; rendered great service by his edition of Bach's "Das wohltemperirte Clavier."] My dear good Kroll, What a first-rate man you are to me, and what pleasure your letter has given me! Probably you already know that I also have been figuring as an invalid these last five weeks.--God be thanked and praised that I am already pretty fairly on my legs again, without rheumatism in the joints or gout! In a few days I shall begin my provincial tour (Lyons, Marseilles, Toulouse, Bordeaux), and then towards the end of August by steamer to Stockholm and Copenhagen. Weymar, our good, dear Weymar, will again be our Christmas Day! Oh what beautiful apples and trifles we will hang on our Christmas tree! and what talks and compositions, and projects and plans! Only don't you disappoint me, and mind you come fresh and well. Leave the bad looks to me, and see that you fill out your cheeks properly. This winter we must be industrious, and struggle through much work. Your Mazurkas are most excellent and talented. You have put a great deal into them--and, if you will allow me to speak quite freely--perhaps too much into them, for much of it halts. Although the dedication to me is both pleasing and gratifying, I cannot help thinking that it would be to your interest not to publish anything before next spring. Take advantage of being as yet unknown, and give to the public from the beginning a proper opinion of your talent by a collective publication. Write a couple of pleasing, brilliant Studies--perhaps also a Notturno (or something of that sort), and an effective Fantasia on some conspicuous theme. Then let Schlesinger, Hartel, or Mechetti (to whom I will most gladly speak about your works beforehand) publish the six pieces--your Concerto and the C major Study, together with the later pieces--all together, so that publisher, critic, artist, and public all have to do with them at the same time. Instead of dishing up one little sweetmeat for the people, give them a proper dinner. I am very sorry I did not follow this plan myself; for, after much experience, I consider it far the best, especially for pianoforte works. In Weymar we will talk more fully and definitely about this. Conradi [Musician and friend in Berlin] is also to come. I don't require the Huguenot Fantasia at present. He will have time enough for it in Weymar. En attendant, [A German letter, so Liszt's own French expression is kept] Schlesinger will give him a modest payment for the work he has begun. Please kindly see about the enclosed letters for Freund as soon as possible. With all good wishes, I am, dear Kroll, Yours most sincerely, F. Liszt Port Marly, June 11th, 1844 39. To Freund [Autograph in the possession of Professor Hermann Scholtz in Dresden.] I am shockingly behindhand with you, my dear Freund, but I won't make any excuses, although an illness of more than a month comes rather a propos to justify me fully and even more. Herewith letters and cards for Baron Lannoy (Haslinger will give you the address), for Prince Fritz Schwarzenberg, and for Doctor Uwe, Kriehuber, and Simon Lowy, who will soon be back in Vienna. I shall be glad if you will give them in any case, whether now or later. If you want to give me a pleasure you will go and see my uncle Eduard Liszt, and try to distract him a little. I detest repeating myself in letters so much that I can't write over again to you my plans of travel up to the beginning of winter; these I have just told Kroll in full, and you already know them from Hanover. Teleky, Bethlen (Friends of Liszt's), and Corracioni are here, and form a kind of colony which I call the Tribe of the Huns! Probably Teleky will come and pick me up at Weymar towards the middle of February, and we shall go together to Vienna and Pest-- not forgetting Temesvar, Debreczin, and Klausenburg! I hope then to find you in Vienna, and shall perhaps be able to give you a good lift. Meanwhile acknowledge the receipt of these lines: enjoy yourself, and remain to me always friend Freund. [A play on his name Freund, which means friend.] Yours most sincerely and affectionately, F. Liszt Port Marly, June 11th, 1844. 40. To Franz Von Schober. Gibraltar, March 3rd, 1845. Your letter pleases me like a child, my dear good Schober! Everything comes to him who can wait. But I scarcely can wait to congratulate you and to see you again in Weymar [as Councillor of Legation there]. Unhappily it is not probable that I can get there before the end of next autumn. Keep me in your good books, therefore, until then, and accept my best thanks in advance for all you will have done for me and fought for me till then, both in Weymar and in Hungary! With regard to Vienna, Lowy writes me almost exactly the same as you. To tell the truth I am extremely thankful to the Vienna public, for it was they who, in a critically apathetic moment, roused and raised me [When he came from Venice to Vienna in the spring of 1838, to give a concert for the benefit of his Hungarian compatriots after the inundations, on which occasion, although Thalberg, Clara Wieck, and Henselt had been there before him, he aroused the utmost enthusiasm.]; but still I don't feel the slightest obligation to return there a year sooner or later. My Vienna journey will pretty much mark the end of my virtuoso career. I hope to go thence (in the month of August, 1846) to Constantinople, and on my return to Italy to pass my dramatic Rubicon or Fiasco. So much for my settled plans. What precisely is going to become of me this coming spring and summer I do not exactly know. In any case to Paris I will not go. You know why. My incredibly wretched connection with _____ has perhaps indirectly contributed more than anything to my Spanish- Portuguese tour. I have no reason to regret having come, although my best friends tried to dissuade me from it. Sometimes it seems to me that my thoughts ripen and that my troubles grow prematurely old under the bright and penetrating sun of Spain... Many kind messages to Eckermann and Wolff. [Professor Wolff, editor of "Der poetische Hausschatz."] I will write to the latter from the Rhine, where I shall at any rate spend a month this summer (perhaps with my mother and Cosima). If he is still inclined to return to his and your countries (Denmark and Sweden), we can make a nice little trip there as a holiday treat. Good-bye, my dear excellent friend. Allow me to give you as true a love as I feel is a necessity of my heart! Ever yours, F. Liszt What is Villers doing? If you see him tell him to write me a line to Marseilles, care of M. Boisselot, Pianoforte Maker. 41. To Franz Kroll at Glogau Weymar, March 26th, 1845 My very dear Kroll, The arrival of your letter and the packet which accompanied it decided a matter of warm contest between our friend Lupus [Presumably Liszt's friend, Professor Wolff (1791-1851).] and Farfa-Magne-quint-quatorze! [For whom this name was intended is not clear.] It consisted in making the latter see the difference between the two German verbs "verwundern" (to amaze) and "bewundern" (to admire), and to translate clearly, according to her wits, which are sometimes so ingeniously refractory, what progress there is from Verwundern (amazement) to Erstaunen (astonishment). Imagine, now, with what a wonderful solution of the difficulty your packet and letter furnished us, and how pleased I was at the following demonstration:-- "We must admire (bewundern) Kroll's fine feeling of friendship; we may be amazed (verwundern) at the proof he has given of his industry in copying out the Mass; should this industry continue we shall first of all be astonished (erstaunen), and by degrees, through the results he will bring about, we again attain to admiration (Bewunderung)." I don't know how you will judge, critically, of this example, but what is certain is that it appeared to be quite conclusive to our auditory. Ernst [The celebrated violinist (1814-65)] has just been spending a week here, during which he has played some hundred rubbers of whist at the "Erbprinz." His is a noble, sweet, and delicate nature, and more than once during his stay I have caught myself regretting you for him, and regretting him for you. Last Monday he was good enough to play, in his usual and admirable manner, at the concert for the Orchestral Pension Fund. The pieces he had selected were his new "Concerto pathetique" (in F~ minor) and an extremely piquant and brilliant "Caprice on Hungarian Melodies." (This latter piece is dedicated to me.) The public was in a good humor, even really warm, which is usually one of its least faults. Milde, who is, as you know, not much of a talker, has nevertheless the tact to say the right thing sometimes. Thus, when we went to see Ernst off at the railway, he expressed the feeling of us all--"What a pity that Kroll is not here!" For the most part you have left here the impression which you will leave in every country--that of a man of heart, talent, tact, and intellect. One of these qualities alone is enough to distinguish a man from the vulgar herd; but when one is so well born as to possess a quartet of them it is absolutely necessary that the will, and an active will, should be added to them in order to make them bring out their best fruits,--and this I am sure you will not be slow to do. Your brother came through here the day before yesterday, thinking he should still find you here. I have given him your address, and told him to inquire about you at Schlesinger's in Berlin, where he expects to be on the 8th of April; so do not fail to let Schlesinger know, in one way or another, when you get to Berlin. As M. de Zigesar [The Intendant at Weimar.] I was obliged to start in a great hurry for The Hague, in the suite of the Hereditary Grand Duchess, I will wait till his return to send you the letters for Mr. de Witzleben. I will address them to Schlesinger early in April. We are studying hard at the Duke of Coburg's opera "Toni, oder die Vergellung," ["Toni, or the Requital"] which we shall give next Saturday. The score really contains some pretty things and which make a pleasing effect; unluckily I cannot say as much for the libretto. Your castle in the air for May we will build up on a solid basis in Weymar; for I am quite calculating on seeing you then, together with our charming, good, worthy friend Conradi. Will you please, dear Kroll, tell Mr. Germershausen and his family how gratified I am with their kind remembrance? When I go to Sagan I shall certainly give myself the pleasure of calling on him. Believe me ever your very sincere and affectionate friend, F. Liszt 42. To Abbe de Lamennais [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.] Permit me, illustrious and venerable friend, to recall myself to your remembrance through M. Ciabatta, who has already had the honor of being introduced to you last year at my house. He has just been making a tour in Spain and Portugal with me, and can give you all particulars about it. I should have been glad also to get him to take back to you the score, now completed, of the chorus which you were so good as to entrust to me ("The iron is hard, let us strike!"), but unfortunately it is not with music as with painting and poetry: body and soul alone are not enough to make it comprehensible; it has to be performed, and very well performed too, to be understood and felt. Now the performance of a chorus of the size of that is not an easy matter in Paris, and I would not even risk it without myself conducting the preliminary rehearsals. While waiting till a favorable opportunity offers, allow me to tell you that I have been happy to do this work, and that I trust I have not altogether failed in it. Were it not for the fear of appearing to you very indiscreet, I should perhaps venture to trespass on your kindness for the complete series of these simple, and at the same time sublime, compositions, of which you alone know the secret. Three other choruses of the same kind as that of the Blacksmiths, which should sum up the most poetical methods of human activity, and which should be called (unless you advise otherwise) Labourers, Sailors, and Soldiers, would form a lyric epic of which the genius of Rossini or Meyerbeer would be proud. I know I have no right to make any such claim, but your kindness to me has always been so great that I have a faint hope of obtaining this new and glorious favor. If, however, this work would give you even an hour's trouble, please consider my request as not having been made, and pardon me for the regret which I shall feel at this beautiful idea being unrealized. As business matters do not necessarily call me to Paris, I prefer not to return there just now. I expect to go to Bonn in the month of July, for the inauguration of the Beethoven Monument, and to have a Cantata performed there which I have written for this occasion. The text, at any rate, is tolerably new; it is a sort of Magnificat of human Genius conquered by God in the eternal revelation through time and space,--a text which might apply equally well to Goethe or Raphael or Columbus, as to Beethoven. At the beginning of winter I shall resume my duties at the Court of Weymar, to which I attach more and more a serious importance. If you were to be so very good as to write me a few lines, I should be most happy and grateful. If you would send them either to my mother's address, Rue Louis le Grand, 20; or to that of my secretary, Mr. Belloni, Rue Neuve St. George, No. 5, I should always get them in a very short time. I have the honor to be, sir, yours very gratefully, F. Liszt Marseilles, April 28th, 1845 43. To Frederic Chopin [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.-- The great Polish tone-poet (1809-49) was most intimate with Liszt in Paris. The latter, in his work "F. Chopin" 1851, second edition 1879, Breitkopf and Hartel; German translation by La Mara, 1880), raised an imperishable monument to him.] Dear Chopin, M. Benacci, a member of the Maison Troupenas, and in my opinion the most intelligent editor, and the most liberal in business matters, in France, asks me for a letter of introduction to you. I give it all the more willingly, as I am convinced that under all circumstances you will have every reason to be satisfied with his activity and with whatever he does. Mendelssohn, whom he met in Switzerland two years ago, has made him his exclusive editor for France, and I, for my part, am just going to do the same. It would be a real satisfaction to me if you would entrust some of your manuscripts to him, and if these lines should help in making you do so I know he will be grateful to me. Yours ever, in true and lively friendship, F. Liszt Lyons, May 21st, 1845 44. To George Sand. [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.-- A friendship of long years subsisted between Liszt and France's greatest female writer, George Sand. At her home of Nohant he was a frequent guest, together with the Comtesse d'Agoult. Three letters which he wrote (in 1835 and 1837) for the Gazette Musicale--clever talks about Art, Nature, Religion, Freedom, etc.--bear George Sand's address.] Without wishing to add to your other inevitable troubles that of a correspondence for which you care little, allow me, dear George, to claim for myself your old indulgence for people who write to you without requiring an answer, and let me recall myself to you by these few lines through M. Benacci. Their ostensible object is to recommend the above-mentioned Benacci, so that you, in your turn, may recommend him more particularly to Chopin (and I may add in parenthesis that I should abstain from this negotiation were I not firmly persuaded that Chopin will never regret entering into business relations with Benacci, who, in his capacity of member of the firm of Troupenas, is one of the most important and most intelligent men of his kind); but the real fact of the matter is that I am writing to you above all-- and why should I not confess it openly?--for the pleasure of conversing with you for a few moments. Therefore don't expect anything interesting from me, and if my handwriting bothers you, throw my letter into the fire without going any further. Do you know with whom I have just had endless conversations about you, in sight of Lisbon and Gibraltar? With that kind, excellent, and original Blavoyer, the Ahasuerus of commerce, whom I had already met several times without recognising him, until at last I remembered our dinners at the "Ecu" (Crown) at Geneva, and the famous Pipe! During the month's voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona we emptied I cannot tell you how many bottles of sherry in your honor and glory; and one fine evening he confided to me in so simple and charming a manner his vexation at being unable to find several letters that you had written to him in Russia, I think, and which have been stolen from him, that I took a liking to him, and he did the same to me. The fact is that there could not possibly be two Blavoyers under the sun, and his own person is the only pattern of which he cannot furnish goods wholesale, for there is no sort of thing that he does not supply to all parts of the globe. A propos of Lisbon and supplies, have you a taste for camellias? It would be a great pleasure to me to send you a small cargo of them from Oporto, but I did not venture to do it without knowing, in case you might perhaps have a decided antipathy to them. In spite of the disinterestedness with which I began this letter, I come round, almost without knowing how, to beg you to write to me. Don't do more than you like; but in any case forgive me for growing old and arriving at the point when noble recollections grow in proportion as the narrowing meannesses of daily life find their true level. Yes, even if you thought me more of a fool than formerly, it would be impossible for me to hold your friendship cheap, or not to prize highly the fact that, somehow or other, it has not come to be at variance nor entirely at an end. As the exigencies of my profession will not allow me leisure to return so soon to Paris, I shall probably not have the opportunity of seeing you for two years. Towards the middle of July I go to Bonn for the inauguration of the Beethoven Monument. Were it not that a journey to the Rhine is so commonplace, I should beg you to let me do the honors of the left and of the right bank to you, as well as to Chopin (a little less badly than I was able to do the honors of Geneva!). My mother and my children are to join me at Cologne in five or six weeks, but I cannot hope for such good luck as that we might meet in those parts, although after your winters of work and fatigue a journey of this kind would be a refreshing distraction for you both. At the close of the autumn I shall resume my duties at Weymar; later on I shall go to Vienna and Hungary, and proceed thence to Italy by way of Constantinople, Athens, and Malta. If, therefore, one of these fine days you should happen to be in the humor, send me a word in reply about the camellias; if you will send your letter to my mother (20, Rue Louis le Grand) I shall get it immediately. In every way, count upon my profound friendship and most respectful devotion always and everywhere. Lyons, May 21st, 1845 F. Liszt 45. T Abbe De Lamennais [Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.] Oh no, there is not, and there never could be, any indiscretion from you towards me. Believe me that I do not deceive myself as to the motive which determined you to write to me with such great kindness, and if it happened that I replied too sanguinely and at too great length I beg you to excuse me. Above all do not punish me by withdrawing from me the smallest particle of your sacred friendship. M. de Lamartine, with whom I have been spending two or three days at Montceau, told me that you had read to him "Les Forgerons," so I played him the music. Permit me still to hope that some day you may be willing to complete the series, and that I, on my side, may not be unworthy of this task. Yours most heartily, Dijon, June 1st, 1845 F. Liszt 46. To Gaetano Belloni in Paris [Autograph in the possession of M. Etienne Charavay in Paris.-- Addressed to Liszt's valued secretary during his concert tours in Europe from 1841-1847.] Dear and Most Excellent Belloni, Everything is moving on, and shall not stop either. Bonn is in a flutter since I arrived and I shall easily put an end to the paltry, under-hand opposition which had been formed against me. By the time you arrive I shall have well and duly conquered my true position. [This refers to the Festival in Bonn, of several days' duration, for the unveiling of the Beethoven Monument (by Hahnel), in which Liszt, the generous joint-founder of the monument, took part as pianist, composer, and conductor.] Will you please add to the list of your commissions: The cross of Charles III. and the cross of Christ of Portugal, large size? You know it is worn on the neck. Don't lose time and don't be too long in coming. Yours ever, F. Liszt July 23rd, 1845. Kindest regards to Madame Belloni.--I enclose a few lines for Benacci, which you will kindly give him. 47. To Madame Rondonneau at Sedan [Autograph in the possession of M. Etienne Charavay in Paris.] In spite of rain, snow, hail, and frost, here I am at last, having reached the hotel of the Roman Emperor at Frankfort after forty-eight hours' travelling, and I take the first opportunity of telling you anew, though not for the last time, how much I feel the charming and affectionate reception which you have given me during my too short, and, unhappily for me, too unfortunate stay at Sedan. Will you, dear Madame, be so kind as to be my mouthpiece and special pleader to Madame Dumaitre, who has been so uncommonly kind and cordial to me? Assuredly I could not confide my cause (bad as it may be) to more delicate hands and to a more persuasive eloquence, if eloquence only consists in reality of "the art of saying the right thing, the whole of the right thing, and nothing but the right thing," as La Rochefoucauld defined it; a definition from which General Foy drew a grand burst of eloquence--"The Charter, the whole Charter (excepting, however, Article 14 and other peccadilloes!), and nothing but the Charter." "But don't let us talk politics any longer," as Lablache so happily remarked to Giulia Grisi, who took it into her head one fine day to criticize Don Juan! Let us talk once more of Sedan, and let me again say to you how happy I should be to be able one day to show those whose acquaintance I have made through you in what grateful remembrance I keep it. Will you, Madame, give my best and most affectionate thanks to M. Rondonneau, and accept my very respectful and devoted homage? F. Liszt Frankfurt, February 11th, 1846 P.S.--Being pressed for time, and owing, perhaps, to a stupid feeling of delicacy, I came away without paying my doctor. If you think well, would you be so kind as to credit me with a napoleon and give it him from me: Madame Kreutzer will be my banker in Paris. Adieu till we meet again. 48. To Monsieur Grillparzer [Original, without date, in the possession of the Baroness Mayrhofer-Grunbuhel at Klagenfurt. It might belong to the year 1846, during which Liszt arranged ten concerts in Vienna, from March 1st to May 17th, and lived there during a great part of the summer. From the same year dates a poem of homage to the incomparable magician of the piano from the great poet. This slight and unimportant letter is the only one of Liszt's found among Grillparzer's effects.] Will you do me the favor, my dear sir, to come and dine, without ceremony, with several of your friends and admirers on Friday next at 3 o'clock (at the "Stadt Frankfurt")? I should be very much gratified at this kindness on your part. M. Bauernfeld leads me to hope that you will not refuse me. Permit me to think that he is not mistaken, and allow me to express once more my high esteem and admiration. F. Liszt Tuesday Morning. [1846?] 49. To Franz von Schober, Coucillor of Legation in Weimar Prague, April 11th, 1846. [According to the postal stamp.] Dear Friend, Your commissions have been attended to. The Wartburg has been sent through Bauernfeld to the Allgemeine, and will, I trust, not have to warten [Wait; a play on the words Wartburg and warten. A treatise on the proposed completion of the Wartburg.] too long. I have sent a second copy of this article to Paris, where it is to appear in French garb. The report figures already in the Vienna Theater-Zeitung, a paper with a wide circulation (and none the better on that account!), where it makes quite a good appearance. You would get the best connection with Frankfort through O. L. B. Wolff (and through his medium, which is at any rate an honest and proper one, with the German Frankfurtes Journal, or the Oberpostamts-Zeitung, and even with the Didaskalia). Talk this over with Wolff! The same with the "illustrated" Leipzig Journal, in which the article on the Wartburg should appear as soon as possible with an illustration. Wolff can also arrange that, and in case it were necessary, why, in Heaven's name, the sketch can be paid for. The State of Weimar will not be ruined by it. Pereat Philistia and its powerless foolery!!! You have only to write a line to Brockhaus, and the columns of the Deutsche Allgemeine stand open to you. Your personal and official position in Weimar entitle you to this. Later on, in passing through Leipzig, you can very easily consolidate this connection. My stay in Hungary (Pest) will probably be limited to the first half of May. I shall in any case see Schwab. "Sardanapalus" [An opera planned by Liszt] (Italian) will most probably be produced next season (May) in Vienna. My stay in Weimar this summer...?? [The continuation of the letter is missing.] 50. To Franz von Schober, Councillor of Legation in Weimar Castle Gratz (at Prince Lichnowsky's) May 28th, 1846 You are curious people at Weimar. You stride on towards a possibility, and as soon as the thing is well in train you take fright at it! However that may be, here are the instructions I have received from Paris, and if you still wish an article on the Wartburg to appear in a French paper you must conform to them, and therefore send to my mother's address (20, Rue Louis le Grand) the indispensable little notice. The note from my Paris correspondent is as follows:-- "The article in its present form would not be suitable for publication in any French paper; it will be necessary to write another, explaining in a few words in what and how the Wartburg is historically interesting to Europe, and why Europe ought to interest herself in its restoration; then make a short architectural description of the castle; but above all do not forget that the article is to be read by Frenchmen, careless of what is happening in Germany, and utterly ignorant of German history and legend." I continue:-- 1st.--A short account, historical and legendary, of the Wartburg. 2nd.--How it has been allowed to fall into ruins. 3rd.--How it is to be restored. Finally, plenty of facts and proper names, as M. de Talleyrand so well said. Agreed then! As soon as you have got this sketched out on the lines above mentioned (it will serve also for the illustrated), send it to my mother by Weyland. My mother will already know through me to whom she has to give it. There is noth