Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 9

Nevertheless I am much obliged to Count Gallenberg for having somewhat driven you to write to me, extra, so good and tender a letter, for which I thank you from my heart and soul.

The electoral circular you added to it gives me real satisfaction, and I am pleased at the public evidence that has been attained of your "honorableness, firmness of character and great capability." It seems to me that it was not possible, under the actual circ.u.mstances, to have obtained a more complete success in the compet.i.tion with Schuselka; [Eduard Liszt was at that time standing against Schuselka as a andidate for the Reichstag (Parliament), but without success.] but I hope that your turn will come soon. The waiting is painful for you, without doubt, and is also too prolonged as regards your deserts...still one must be resigned to it, and that as simply as possible, by abstaining from useless words and taking useless steps. To be ever deserving, though only occasionally obtaining--much or little--is still the wisest thing to do in this world, where "he who endures little will not endure long!"--

.-. Shall I see you at Carlsruhe at the end of August? I hope so most truly. Before returning here (at the beginning of October) I shall spend a few days with my mother in Paris. You will not be vexed with me for beginning with her first, and for postponing till another year my transient visit to you at Vienna, which I accept in the same manner as you offer it, and for which the occasion will be found when I return to Hungary, supposing that they are inclined (as appears likely) to give me an order similar to that of the "Graner Messe." Otherwise, and unless there be any determining circ.u.mstance for me, I am resolved not to tire people with my presence, as also to withdraw myself from the idle fatigue that people cause me. Thank G.o.d I have something to work at without disturbing myself at my work further than is necessary for the good conscience I hope always to keep. For this Rome is peculiarly adapted to me, and I shall not go away for the smallest thing without well knowing what it is for.

I send herewith my answer to the Committee of the a.s.sociation in aid of poor musicians in Hungary, [See the foregoing letter of 18th June.] to which I beg the Princess to authorise you to add the sum of 200 florins. Let them be sent at once to the Committee, begging for an acknowledgment, which you will send to me.

Remenyi will come and see you shortly. He has spent nearly two months here, and has been heard very often at the Argentina Theater with extraordinary success. I have invited him to come to Carlsruhe, as I am persuaded that he will succeed no less well there than in Rome. Meanwhile I beg you to give him a cordial reception.

Yours ever affectionately,

F. Liszt

June 22nd, 1864 [Rome]

Greetings and love to your dear ones.

It goes without saying also that I think most affectionately of Cornelius and Tausig, which you will tell them.

31. To Dr. Franz Brendel

Dear Friend,

.--. I can a.s.sure you of Remenyi's co-operation. By the middle of July I expect a letter from him with his fuller address. It will be superfluous to mention him in the preliminary programme of the concert-performances. But what about Wagner?--Frau von Bulow sends me very sad news of him...If he definitely refuses to attend the Tonkunstler-Vers. all we can do is to obtain his consent to give the extracts--previously enumerated in the programme--from his "Meistersanger" and other of his works (together with the scores and voice parts). In my opinion these pieces are indispensable for the princ.i.p.al day of the Carlsruhe programme. It would be best if Bulow alone brought the matter to the desired issue. It seems to me impossible that Wagner could give him and all of us the pain of an absolute refusal! At all events everything must be done to avoid such a misfortune--nay, I may even say, such a scandal.

For the future, dear friend, you shall be totally relieved of the trouble of sending me these detailed communications. Frau von Bulow is going to report to me of the further progress of the preliminary arrangements concerning the Tonk.-Vers.; you yourself have more than enough to do with writing, negotiating, deciding, preparing, weighing to and fro, and in thinking things out, etc., etc.

It is settled, therefore, that I am coming, and you will have to look after me during my couple of weeks' stay in Germany, as it is mainly your fault that I am coming. Between ourselves I may tell you that, had it not been for your pressing letters, I should probably have confined myself to giving the Bulows a rendez-vous in Ma.r.s.eilles, and to paying my mother a few days'

visit in Paris. Of other roads there are extremely few for me nowadays--and those that I have still to tread are not to be found in journeys, but only indeed at my quiet writing-table!

With hearty greetings and in all friendship, yours,

F. Liszt

July 1st, 1864

Yesterday I received a friendly letter from Seroff. Could not some fragment from his "Judith" be fitted into your Carlsruhe programme?

32. To Walter Bache in London

[The addressee (1842-1888), a pupil of Liszt's, settled in London as teacher, pianist and conductor, devoted his whole life there to making Liszt's music known in England. His annual Recitals and Orchestral concerts were devoted mainly to this object.]

I reply to your letter, dear Mr. Bache, by a.s.suring you once more of my very sincere and affec-* *tionate interest. You will never find me wanting or behindhand when it is a question of proving this to you; be very sure of that.

The good news you give me of Madame Laussot is very welcome to me. I hope she will give me the pleasure of coming again to Rome, for I see no chance of my coming to Florence. Towards the middle of August I shall start for Carlsruhe, where I have promised to be present at the third Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Thence I shall go to Weimar, and shall take Paris on the way in order to see my mother again before returning here at the beginning of October.

Please tell Madame Laussot that she would wrong me if she did not count me amongst her most truly affectionate and devoted adherents. I especially preserve a grateful remembrance of her in connection with the "Ideale," and all that attaches to it. She is of the very small number of n.o.ble and intelligent exceptions in the too great number of my friends and acquaintances. I was speaking to this purpose the day before yesterday to a young person of Grecian origin who lives in Florence at the Count de Sartiges' house (and who frequents Madame Laussot's concerts).

The Athenian plays the piano marvellously and charmingly.

You will bring me Ehlert's Scherzo with other of his compositions.

Meanwhile I commission you to give my best compliments to Ehlert.

A thousand cordial and affectionate things, and a revoir next winter.

July 2nd, 1864, Madonna del Rosario

F. Liszt

Thanks for the triple photograph, [Probably of Mme. Laussot, Pinelli and Bache, who were taken together.] which is thrice welcome.

33. To ?

[Autograph letter (without address) in the possession of Monsieur Etienne Charavay in Paris. The letter appears to be addressed to a friend in Vienna.]

Dear Friend,

The parcel of music you kindly announce has not yet come; but I will not delay in sending you my thanks, as I am about to leave here for six or seven weeks.

The day after tomorrow I travel to Carlsruhe to attend the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, the concerts there (conducted by Bulow) being given between August 22nd and 26th. Thence I go to Weimar on a visit. By the end of September I shall be with my dear mother in Paris, and back here by the middle of October. You must not be surprised if in newspaper-fashion I leave it undecided whether or not I change my abode and remain in Rome for ever.

The words for ever remind me of the 22nd Psalm (according to the usual Protestant numbering the 23rd) which, in reality, I composed for a tenor, whereas the 137th is meant for a mezzo- soprano (Fraulein Genast, now married to Herr Merian, in Basle).

I am therefore surprised that you should have proposed the latter Psalm and not the 22nd for Herr Erl, and I fear the effect of it will not be good sung by a tenor. The violin accompaniment which on several occasions is in unison, as well as the concluding chorus, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem," are written exclusively for women's (or boys') voices, and thus demand a female soloist.

Besides which it seems to me that the sentiment and spiritual tonality of the Psalm do not move in the masculinum. Israelitish gentlemen must not be called upon to sigh, to dream and to abandon themselves to their grief in any such way.

I shall be much pleased to become fully acquainted with the new works by Kremser, Hasel and Ziehrer, which you promise me, on my return.

Meanwhile with best thanks and kind greetings, yours in all friendship,

F. Liszt

Rome, August 7th, 1864 (Madonna del Rosario)

34. To Eduard Liszt

Weimar, September 7th, 1864 (In the blue room of the Altenburg)

It grieved me to have to do without your presence at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Carlsruhe, dearest Eduard. Your letter, however, speaks of your having made some advance in your career, and this greatly delights me. I hope you will soon have more definite news to communicate to me on the subject. You know that to see you prosperous is one of the satisfactions I most desire in life!--

As regards the Tonkunstler-Versammlung you will find a kindly and satisfactory resume of the proceedings in the supplement of the Allgemeine Augsburger Zeitung--3lst August, 1st to 3rd September.