F. Liszt

296. To Freiherr Hans Von Wolzogen

Much-esteemed Freiherr,

Your "Leitfaden" are a salutary enrichment to musical literature.

They essentially promote the spiritual comprehension of the great, sublime, unique works of Wagner. The "Leitfaden" are already considered cla.s.sical, and rightly so, because, as a masterly piece of work, they establish a school.

Pray accept my very best thanks for the numerous proofs of kindness you have given me, to correspond in some degree to which is the wish of

Yours sincerely,

F. Liszt

Weimar, April 25th, 1882

A cordial and friendly meeting at Parsifal!

297. To Frau Heriette Von Liszt in Vienna

Weimar, May 11th, 1882.

My Dear Cousin,

Our dear Hedwig [The daughter of E. von Liszt, who studied a whole summer under Liszt in Weimar.] has not been forgotten.

Immediately on arriving here I ordered Overbeck's edifying drawings for her, "The Seven Sacraments," a serious study of which, as well as of the commentary, is to be highly recommended.

The work is published at Ratisbon; my bookseller here is wont to do business in Tempo moderato molto commodo. He kept me waiting, and I had to go to Belgium (on the 30th of April). I only received the above-mentioned work here yesterday, and send it you today together with the "Ave Maria" for Harmonium and Meyer's excellent "Manual of Universal Knowledge." Eduard and Hedwig may extend their knowledge by means of it.

My Belgian week--from May 1st to 8th, Brussels and Antwerp--was of the pleasantest. Enclosed are the moderate articles (on the performance of "St. Elizabeth") by the Brussels Sch.e.l.le and Hanslick [In the "Independance Belge"]--Eduard Fetis, the son of the renowned and meritorious author of the many-volumed "Biographic universelle des Musiciens" and of the "Universal History of Music." Thirty years ago I said to that same Fetis somewhat arrogantly, nay almost insolently: "My aspirations are directed not merely towards obtaining articles, but rather towards acquiring a durable position in the History of Art."

Till the beginning of July will remain in Weimar

Yours most cordially,

F. Liszt

P.S.--The arrival of the "Kaiser Virginia" has just been announced to me. Please send me the little bill.

298. To Camille Saint-Saens

Very Dear Friend,

I am still quite struck with wonder at your "Predication aux oiseaux de St. Francois." ["St. Francis preaching to the birds."

Composed by Liszt for pianoforte alone. (Roszavolgyi.)] You use your organ as an orchestra in an incredible way, as only a great composer and a great performer, like yourself, could do. The most proficient organists in all countries have only to take off their hats to you.

I am sending you by this post a parcel of things of mine for organ. If you should find an opportunity at Brussels of producing the Introduction to St. Elizabeth, it would, under your fingers, have the effect I intended.

Cordial thanks for your visit to Brussels, and ever yours in admiration and friendship.

F. Liszt

Weimar, May 14th, 1882

299. To Madame Malwine Tardieu

Dear Kind Friend, ["Chere bienveillante"]

The telegram Tardieu-Lynen-Lessmann sent from Aix-la-Chapelle has given me extreme pleasure. [The Tardieus, the Lynens (Antwerp friends of Liszt), and Otto Lessmann were present at the Musical Festival at Aix-la-Chapelle.]

My padrone di casa (Lessmann is this through his paper) are always most excellent.

Daniela de Bulow, my darling granddaughter, writes how kind you are, and will come with us shortly to Villa "Fantaisie"

(Bayreuth). [She had accompanied her father, Dr. Hans V. Bulow, who played (under Wullner's conductorship) Brahms' first Pianforte Concerto, and Beethoven's 15 Variations (on a theme out of Eroica).]

At "Parsifal" we shall be 30,000; that will be the best chance of seeing one another again.

The Opera of Hamlet, by Stadtfeld, [The first performance of the Opera. The composer, a Wiesbaden man (born 1826), had studied at the Brussels Conservatoire, and died there in 1853.] written in transition years (50), and twice given here, not without success, is one of the best that I know of the Meyerbeer-Donizetti genre.

The Wagner invasion is strangely modifying theatrical requirements at the present time. It is no longer possible to write a "Hamlet" according to the style of a Duprez, some absolute tenor with the famous "ut de boitrine," nor to make the ghost of Hamlet's father benevolently intervene in order to effect a Trio or Quartet, even of a pretty musical manufacture.

The distinguished work of Stadtfeld belongs, then, to the theatrical Past, so rich in oblivion...

As you are so kind as to undertake my books, I will ask you to send me soon the following works:--

1st, Gevaert--History of Music in ancient times 2 volumes.

(Publisher, Annoot Braekmann, at Ghent.)

2nd, Charles Clement--Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael,--a magnificent volume ill.u.s.trated by 167 drawings.

Price, bound, 15 francs. (Publisher, Hetzel, Paris.)

3rd, J. D. Lewis--"Bons Mots of the Greeks and Romans": 1 volume in 16--Charavay library. A thousand pardons for thus using and abusing your amiable kindness.

I have read with pleasure the article in the "Guide Musical" on the Festival at Aix-la-Chapelle, and beg you to repeat to the author [Presumably Monsieur Tarideu.] my sincere friendship.

Till our happy meeting at Bayreuth, at the end of July, farewell.

In affectionate grat.i.tude,

F. Liszt

I add the article from the official paper of Weimar on Stadtfeld's "Hamlet."