Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 44

My very honored Friend,

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

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

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

With thanks, yours sincerely,

F. Liszt

190. To the Music Publisher Bessel

Sir,

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

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

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 20th, 1876

Kindly give the accompanying note to Mr. Cui.

191. To Prince Carl Lichnowsky

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

Your most Serene Highness and Friend,

In old attachment I thank you heartily for your kind lines. The most grateful recollections ever bind me to the House of Lichnowsky. Your highly endowed father and your admirable brother Feliz showed not less kindness to me, than Prince Carl Lichnowsky showed before that to the young Beethoven, who dedicated his Opus I. (3 Trios) to the Prince Lichnowsky, and felt himself quite at home in the so-called Krzizanowitz "Palace," and in the Castle of Gratz. [Krzizanowitz is Lichnowsky's inherited estate in Prussian Silesia, the Castle of Gratz his dominion in Austrian Silesia.

Franz Liszt like Beethoven, was a guest in both these places.]

May it be permitted, dear Prince, to find you again there (perhaps next year) to

Your faithful and most devoted

F. Liszt

June 21st, 1876

192. To Hofcapellmeister Max Erdmannsdorfer

Very honored Friend,

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

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

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

Yours most sincerely,

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 27th, 1876

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

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

193. To Kornel von Abranyi

Dear honored Friend,

Best thanks for your letter. Please to make my apologies to the mayor Herr Karoly and to the Festival Committee in Szegedin. [The town of Szegedin and the Hungarian Vocal Society had begged Liszt's active sympathy for the Musical and Singers' Festival about to be held in that place. Karl Wagner was president of the Festival Committee.] With reference to the first invitation to Szegedin (last March) I made the observation immediately that "During the whole month of August I belong to Bayreuth."

Consequently it is no fault to remain there,--if the principle is correct.

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

Your old, most sincerely faithful

F. Liszt

Bayreuth, August 6th, 1876

194. To Richard Wagner

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

Incredible One,

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

F. L.

[Bayreuth, August, 1876]

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