Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 136 : 318. To Arthur Meyer in Paris, Presidet of the "Presse Parisienne"[Copied in

318. To Arthur Meyer in Paris, Presidet of the "Presse Parisienne"

[Copied in the Gazette de Hongrie at Budapest, February 1st, 1883]

Monsieur le Directeur,

My telegram of this morning expressed to you my excuses and deep regret at being unable to be of use in the programme of your Festival. [Liszt had been asked to take part in a Festival which was given at the Grand Opera for the benefit of the sufferers from the inundations in Alsace-Lorraine. "The Dame of Liszt in France," they wrote, "is synonymous with triumph, and we know that it is also synonymous with kindness."]

It would certainly be an honor to me to take part in it, and I am by no means oblivious of the grat.i.tude I owe to Paris, where my youthful years were pa.s.sed. Moreover it would be, it seems to me, a becoming thing that, after the generous and striking sympathy shown by Paris--also by a festival at the Grand Opera--to my compatriots on the occasion of the inundation of Szeged, an artist from Hungary, who has been favored by so much French kindness, should make his public acknowledgments at your approaching grand performance.

Unfortunately my age of 72 years invalidates me as a pianist. I could no longer risk in public my ten fingers--which have been out of practice for years--without incurring just censure. There is no doubt on this point; and I am perfectly resolved to abstain from any exhibition of my old age at the piano in any country.

Please accept, Monsieur le Directeur, my thanks and best compliments.

F. Liszt

Budapest, January 28th, 1883

319. To the Composer Albert Fuchs

Your "Hungarian Suite" [For Orchestra, dedicated to Liszt] is an excellent and effective work. While springing from the musical ground of Hungary, it nevertheless remains your own property, as there are no imitations or used-up ornamentations in it, but rather much new employment of harmonies, and always a national coloring. For the dedication you are heartily thanked by

F. Liszt

Budapest, February 4th, 1883

320. To Saissy, Editor of the "Gazette de Hongrie in Budapest

[From a rough copy in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.]

I come to ask your advice, dear Monsieur Saissy; please give it me quite frankly, without any reserve, and tell me whether you think it is an opportune moment for my letter (which I enclose), relative to my pretended animadversion against the Israelites, to be published or not. If you think it is, I beg you to insert it in the next number of the Gazette de Hongrie; otherwise it shall remain unprinted, as I shall not send it to any other paper.

As the proverb says, "Silence is gold"; but perhaps, under the given circ.u.mstances, in view of the serious question of the Israelites in Hungary, it would be better to speak in the current silver money in the papers.

Let us rectify errors, and remain modest but not timid. In faithful devotion,

F. Liszt

Budapest, February 6th, 1883

321. To The Editor of the "Gazette de Hongrie"

[Published in the Gazette de Hongrie of February 8th, 1883, Budapest. A translation of it also appeared in German papers; amongst others, in Lessmann's Allgemeine Musikzeituug, at the wish of the Master, who was annoyed with the aspersion against himself of having promoted the Antisemitic movement.]

Mr. Editor,

It is not without regret that I address these lines to you; but, as there has been some report spread here about my pretended hostility to the Israelites, I ought to rectify the mistake of this false report.

As is well known in the musical world, many ill.u.s.trious Israelites, Meyerbeer first and foremost, have given me their esteem and friends.h.i.+p, and the same in the literary world with Heine and others.

It seems to me that it would be superfluous to enumerate the many proofs I have given, during fifty years, of my active loyalty towards Israelites of talent and capacity, and I abstain in like manner from speaking of my voluntary contributions to the charitable inst.i.tutions of Judaism in various countries.

The motto of my patron saint, St. Francois de Paule, is "Caritas!" I will remain faithful to this throughout my life!

If, by some mutilated quotations from my book on the Gipsies in Hungary, it has been sought to pick a quarrel with me, and to make what is called in French une querelle d'Allemand, I can in all good conscience affirm that I feel myself to be guiltless of any other misdeed than that of having feebly reproduced the argument of the kingdom of Jerusalem, set forth by Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield), George Eliot (Mrs. Lewes), and Cremieux, three Israelites of high degree.

Accept, Sir, etc.,

F. Liszt

February 6th, 1883

322. To Rich and Mason in Toronto

[From a rough copy in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig]

[1883]

Dear Sirs,

The Rich and Mason Grand Piano which you have so kindly sent me here is a pattern one. And as such will artists, judges, and the public recognise it.

Together with my hearty thanks I wanted at the same time to send you the Liszt portrait for which you wished. It was painted by Baron Joukowski, son of the highly honored tutor and friend of Alexander II., a man who will also be ever famous in Russian literature. Now, however, this Liszt portrait has been such a success that they wanted to have a second one like it for the Joukowski Museum. The painter kindly consented to the request, which has necessitated a delay of 2 to 3 months in my sending off the first portrait to Toronto.

Joukowski had also prepared the sketches for the "Parsifal"

scenery in Bayreuth, which were followed by a successful performance.

Excuse, dear Sirs, the delay in my acknowledgments, and accept the a.s.surance of my high esteem.

F. Liszt

323. To Madame Marie Jaell in Vienna

[Autograph in possession of Herr Commerzienrath Bosendorfer in Vienna.--The addressee was the widow of Alfred Jaell, and was a pianiste and composer in Paris.]

Chere Admirable [Dear Admirable One],

I give you at once a most cordial welcome to Budapest. Have you already made your arrangements for concerts here? Can my very excellent friend Bosendorfer be of use to you as an agent? To my regret I am not in a position to help you in that, on account of my being so very decidedly out of touch with the princ.i.p.al concert arrangers of the neighborhood, who impertinently make a pitiable trade for the benefit of Art...the art of their own pocket and predominance.

To our right speedy meeting! Will you let me make acquaintance with your new compositions, and accept the homage of my admiring sympathy and affection?