Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 113 : F. Liszt Budapest, March 9th, 1877 At the beginning of April I shall be back in Weimar

F. Liszt

Budapest, March 9th, 1877

At the beginning of April I shall be back in Weimar. I am pleased that you included the old "Loreley," with fresh orchestral accompaniments, in your concert programme. Give my respectful compliments to the friendly singer Mrs. Osgood.

209. To Eduard von Liszt

Weimar, July 3rd, 1877

Dearest Eduard,

For some weeks I have been much on the go and disturbed in many ways. Several musical performances occasioned me to go about in the neighborhood. On the 17th June some portions of the "Christus Oratorio" were splendidly sung in the Thomaskirche (Leipzig) by the Riedel Verein. Last Friday "Elizabeth" came brilliantly to the fore again in Eisenach, and yesterday Gille, my untiring friend of many years' standing, arranged a large concert of sacred music (with several items of mine), at which I was present.

I do indeed regret that I am not able to accept in person the kind invitation of my beloved nephew Franz for his wedding-day.

It would be much better for me to be more with you all!...Enclosed are a few words to Franz. Arrange for my proxy as a witness at the marriage ceremony. Whoever is chosen by you will be worthy and right to me: as for me I should choose my friend Bosendorfer.

I go the day after tomorrow to Berlin for two days; then I am bidden farther and nearer till the end of July. I shall respectfully announce to the Frau Furstin [Princess] my arrival in Rome--beginning of August. Please send me here on the 20th July the money for the journey, and something over--about 1200 marks [about 60 pounds]. I must not have any other debts except moral ones. Our name Liszt in the Hungarian language means Flour: we will provide good wheaten meal "ex adipe frumenti" with thee, Franz, and thy children.

Truly devoted,

F. L.

.--. I shall visit you in the middle of November on the return journey from Rome to Pest,--where I think of spending the winter, as formerly.

Heartiest greetings to your wife and Marie.

210. To Ludwig Bosendorfer

Honored Friend,

You have been just as much a pianoforte maker as I have been, and still remain, alas! an almost posthumous pianoforte player.

My friend Berlioz asked: "Do you believe that I can listen to music for my pleasure?" Nevertheless we intend to continue our Music and Piano "for our good pleasure."

Thanks for letter and telegram.

Heartily devoted,

F. Liszt

Weimar, July 12th, 1877

211. To Edmund von Mihalovich

.--. In order to obtain this performance [Of Mihalovich's Opera "Hagbar."] I think it necessary and indispensable (as I have already told you) that you should lay a regular siege in person to the Intendant, the Capellmeister, and the singers, male and female, of the theater which you choose.

The new serious Operas are now regarded with suspicion and are in disgrace everywhere. Several trials have been made of them here and there of late years. In the happiest of them the public applauded warmly during the first performances, and abstained from attending the following ones. Consequently the coffers remained empty: ergo, it is the receipts which prove real success. If Wagner's marvellous chefs d'oeuvre hold their own in the repertoire, it is because they make money and continue to draw even a large contingent of detractors. .--.

Weimar, July 20th, 1877

Towards the middle of August I shall be in Rome, and shall stay at the Villa d'Este until my return to Pest in November.

212. To Kornel von Abranyi

Weimar, July 28th, 1877

Honored Friend,

Dear Secretary-General of the "Zene Akademia," [i.e. Academy of Music of the Country.] Sincere thanks for your significant communication, which I answer immediately, point by point.

[Abranyi had informed Liszt, as President of the Academy, of the course of instruction (1877) and concerts, and had also asked him for his opinion on several Art questions.]

1. The conclusion of the year '77 with the examination concerts (25 to 28 June--and the "Magyar Hangverseny" [An Hungarian Concert.] on the 30th June) has been very gratifying. Let us rejoice in the praiseworthy performances of Messrs. Juhasz, Agghazi, Swoboda, and of the ladies Frau Knapp, Fraulein Lepessy, [The above-mentioned were favorite pupils of the Master at the Academy.] etc., in Counterpoint, Harmony, Composition, Aesthetics, Hungarian music and the indispensable Piano-playing.

The work best praises the Master: in like manner do the pupils, when preparing themselves for pre-eminence, praise their teacher.

The "Zene Akademia" has not to work for the universally usual kind of musical study, but has indeed a weightier, higher task to fulfil.

2. The publication of your "Academic lectures" I had especially recommended to His Excellency Minister Trefort. "Suitable teaching and departmental books" printed in the Hungarian language are inaccessible. You, my honored Secretary-General, have to look after that,--and the Minister will certainly support your scientific-patriotic work for the use and benefit of learners and teachers at the "Zene Akademia"--and further, in all Hungary.

3. As to the "Plan of cla.s.ses in the department for Church music, Singing and Organ," I can now only repeat my previously expressed wish that the right and able person of good working capability may be found for conducting these cla.s.ses. Neither invalids nor dabblers may officiate at No. 4, Fischplatz!--[Liszt's house, and, for the time, the locale of the Academy.] If unfortunately the right reverend Herr F. Witt should continue unable to fill the post offered to him in Budapest, I shall propose that the new director should come for a year on trial. And a complaisant sort of Protection is thereby to be avoided, for the matter in question is nothing less than the worthy thriving and culture of Church music in Hungary.

4. I consider as necessary the appointment of an experienced Pianoforte Professor, one who is pus.h.i.+ng forwards, and who will be able to relieve our highly honored Director Herr F. Erkel of a part of his very meritorious but excessive exertions. Meanwhile I protest strongly against desiring to have a professors.h.i.+p without salary. Fees with honor; judicious restrictions without beggarly management; otherwise we shall come to grief.

5. I beg that my "jubilee-stipend," entrusted to me in the most honorable manner by the munic.i.p.ality of Budapest, may next year ('78) be apportioned to the same artists as this year. I will gladly sign all the papers having reference to this. Looking forward to the speedy appearance of your Study of Harmony, and of the collected writings of our never-to-be-forgotten friend Mosonyi, together with his biography and Abranyi's new compositions, and greeting your laudable and persistent endeavors in the cause of Art with sympathetic recognition,

I remain, with best regards, yours truly,

F. Liszt

Next week I journey farther--shall be in Rome by the middle of August--and in November in Pest, where I intend to spend the winter again. Write to me in September: my address will be Villa d'Este, Tivoli, (presso) Roma, Italia.

I beg you to give the enclosed lines to Frau Knapp.

213. To the Music Publisher Constantin Sander

Very dear Sir,

I shall have much pleasure in preparing the re-discovered ma.n.u.script of the "Harold Symphony" (Score for Piano and Alto [viola]) for the dress and in entrusting it to you. Send me the ma.n.u.script soon, together with the original score of Berlioz, which is necessary for the accurate revision of the arrangement.

My fee shall be a moderate one, as I am pleased that your firm is going to publish this arrangement, which was finished in Switzerland forty years ago. I would have made it public long since, if the ma.n.u.script had not been lost.