Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 67

Weimar, June 10th, 1882.

300. To the Honorable Committee of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein

[Printed in Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik, 1882, No. 23.]

Dear Sirs,

The Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein confers a high distinction on me by electing me as its Honorary President.

Since the starting of this Verein, 20 years ago, I have the honor of feeling that I have been of service to it. Its aim is a worthy one,--the advancement of music and musicians in an unprejudiced manner, and in accordance with the spirit of the time. Its ways have always been known as pure and worthy of recognition, regardless of opposition and silence.

Let us therefore go boldly forwards on our n.o.ble road!

Accept, dear Sirs, my heartiest thanks, together with the a.s.surance that, ever conscious of my task, I remain, with high esteem,

Yours most faithfully,

F. Liszt

Rome, [June, 1882]

301. To the Commendatore F.von Jagemann at Freiburg in Breisgau

[From a copy of Liszt's in the possession of Otto Lessmann at Chalottenburg.]

Dear Sir and Commendatore

You ask me if L. Ramann's biography is "cla.s.sical"? To belong to the cla.s.sical means, first of all, to be dead, then to be to the world immortal. Neither of these is claimed at present by yours,

F. Liszt

Freiburg, July 6th, 1882

302. To Nicolaus Oesterlein in Vienna

[The Addressee was the able founder and possessor of the Richard Wagner Museum in Vienna, a unique collection, in its way, of musical and historical importance. The bibliography mentioned in the letter came out I (at Breitkopf and Hartel's) shortly before the first performance of "Parsifal."]

My Dear Sir,

I have already heard the praise of your "Catalogue of a Richard Wagner Library." It will be a pleasure to me to make its acquaintance, and while awaiting your kind sending of the work accept thanks for your accompanying lines,

From yours very truly,

F. Liszt

Bayreuth, July 16th, 1882

303. To Kornel von Abranyi

Bayreuth, July 23rd, 1882

Dear honored Friend,

By the same post you will receive the instrumentation of the "A magyarok istene" for the Musical Festival at Debreczin..--. I beg the directors carefully to try over the small instrumentation before the full rehearsal, with the instruments (plus the brilliant cymbals), without the vocal parts.

The solo trumpeter must perform his part, as a Hungarian Magnate, in a n.o.ble manner, and not blow the trumpet as though it were a trade.

I also beg that the directors will be so good as to correct any chance mistakes there may be in my hastily written and unrevised ma.n.u.script score. Though I trouble myself but little about the spread of my compositions, yet I do not wish them to be offered to the public in a mutilated form. As I flatter myself that I possess a sufficient portion of self-criticism, other criticism remains only valuable and instructive to me.

Your son Kornel is heartily welcome to me at Bayreuth.

I will discuss here with Vegh [Formerly Vice-president of the Hungarian Academy of Music.] the ministerial affairs of your "academic, historical manual." The matter will a.s.suredly be settled to your satisfaction.

Yours most faithfully,

F. Liszt

Wagner's "Parsifal" far surpa.s.ses the master-works which the theater boasts up to the present time. May the public be educated up to it.

304. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen

My dear Freiherr,

Both at and after yesterday's performance of Wagner's "Parsifal"

it was the universal feeling that about this wonder-work it is impossible to speak.

It has indeed struck dumb those who were so deeply impressed by it; its sacred pendulum swings from the sublime to the sublimest.

Yours ever,

F. Liszt

Bayreuth, July 27th, 1882

305. To Madame Malwine Tardieu

Weimar, September 12th, 1882