To you, dear friend, I am ever harmoniously,

F. Liszt

Weimar, October 14th, 1882

310. To Otto Lessmann

[Weimar,] November 4th, 1882

Dear Friend,

I shall be delighted if the Tannhauser-Songs [Composed by Lessmann, transcribed by Liszt for piano, and published by Barth, Berlin (now Junne, Leipzig)] give you satisfaction. Find a pianist of the fair s.e.x, or the other s.e.x, in Berlin, who will set about his task well of playing these songs in public. As far as I can tell I should think they would bring the player applause.

I will answer your two questions at once.

Of my "continuously written autobiography" I have as yet heard nothing. Publishers have frequently asked me to write memoirs, but I put it off with the excuse that it was more than enough for me to live through my life, without transcribing it to paper. If I were married I could certainly dictate somewhat of it to my wife now and then. But I am glad to keep out of the bothers of penmanship, which I dislike.

The dramatic performance of the Elizabeth in Cologne is to take place after my return from Budapest, next April or May. (I have promised to be present at it.) Yesterday evening I wrote a couple of lines of thanks and commendation to Herr Duysen, for Fraulein Spiring, whom you met here [Lives now in Jena]. She is a pianist and teacher deserving of recommendation, and is trying to establish herself in Berlin, and I commend her to your good graces.

With thanks, yours ever,

F. Liszt

Rubinstein is coming to see me next Tuesday after the Leipzig performance of the "Maccabees."

311. To Madame Malwine Tardieu

Weimar, November 6th, 1882

Dear Friendly One [Chere bienveillante],

I am still detained here, partly on account of a stupid indisposition,--nothing serious, but disagreeably prolonged. I make a rule of never bothering my head about my health, and I beg my friends never to trouble about it.

Thank you for sending the 3rd volume of the correspondence of George Sand. The long letter of 20 pages to Mazzini, dated the 23rd May, '52, appears to me to be a chef d'oeuvre of judgment and foresight. In 1852 few political men were placed in a sufficiently elevated position to rule the fluctuations of socialism and to understand its necessary value. Mazzini himself was mistaken in this, as well as in regard to the importance of the acquisition of universal suffrage. Forgive me for wandering off thus into political matters, of which I don't understand anything, and of which it does not concern me to talk. But I will just quote to you a mot which in 1842 was rather widely spread on the sly in Petersburg. A fair lady of my acquaintance told me that the Emperor Nicholas had said to her of me, "As to his hair and his political opinions, they displease me." I begged the same lady to transmit my reply, which was as follows: His Majesty has every right in the world to judge me as seemeth well to him, nevertheless I venture to beg him not to think that I am an idiot. Now it would be idiocy on my part to proclaim political opinions. The Emperor shall know them when he deigns to put 300,000 soldiers at my disposal.--

To return to the letters of George Sand. Those addressed in '52 to Prince Jerome Bonaparte and to Louis Napoleon about the pardoning of several democrats are in exquisite taste; the genius of a great heart appears in them. Allow me to beg for the little account of the books that you have been so kind as to send me, dear Madame Tardieu, and please add to it the price of the subscription to the Bien public. I suppose you only took it for one quarter, and I will not go on with it, not having time to read half the papers which my profession and my tastes would lead me to peruse. Besides this my eyes, without having exactly anything the matter with them, do not any longer adapt themselves either to reading or writing without reprieve; and by evening I often feel extremely tired...

Has the Independance Belge spoken of a most interesting and superb volume,

"The Correspondence and Musical Works of Constantin Huygens"

(17th century), published by Jonckbloet and Land, professors at the University of Leyden, magnificently edited by Brill at Leyden?

The work is worthy of notice.

To the kind remarks which the Indpendance has inserted on the concert of the 23rd October with the Liszt programme, [A Liszt- concert in the Weimar theater in celebration of his birthday.] I add the observation that the real t.i.tle of my "Transcription" of the "Rakoczy March" should be--"Paraphrase symphonique." It has more than double the number of pages of Berlioz's well-known one, and was written before his. From delicacy of feeling for my ill.u.s.trious friend I delayed the publication of it until after his death; for he had dedicated to me his orchestral version of the Rakoczy, for which, however, one of my previous transcriptions served him, chiefly for the harmonisation, which differs, as is well known, from the rudimentary chords usually employed in the performances of the Tsiganes and other little orchestras on the same lines. Without any vanity I simply intimate the fact, which any musician can verify for himself.

At last I have just written to my most honored and more than obliging collaborator, Mr. Lagye. His excellent French translation of my four Psalms is being engraved. As soon as it is out you shall have it.

In about ten days I shall join the Wagners, and shall spend more than a month with them at the Palazzo Vendramin, Venice.

Cordial regards to your husband, from your

Very grateful and affectionate

F. Liszt

The director of the subscription concerts at Weimar is going to give Benoit's "La Guerre," and at the next Musical Festival Benoit's "Sanctus" and "Benedictus" will be heard. [Both these intentions of Liszt came to nothing, owing to external causes.]

312. To the Editor of the "Allgemeine Musikzeitung," Otto Lessmann, at Charlottenburg

Dear Mr. Editor,

As I am very much hindered in my work by overmuch sending of scores, other compositions, and suchlike writings, I beg you to make it known that I wish in future not to have my attention claimed in this manner. I have modestly refrained for many years past from contributing to collections of autographs.

Yours truly,

F. Liszt

Weimar, November, 1882

313. To Adelheid Von Schorn

Monday, November 20th, 1882

Venezia la bella: Palazzo Vendramin.

Dear Friend,

I don't intend you to hear first through others of my safe arrival here. Thank Heaven! the Wagners and all the family are in perfect health.

Your brother will write you word from Nuremberg that the method of whist, so to say invented and certainly perfected by you, is being spread on to the Durerplatz also under your name at L.

Ramann's. To get rid of all the aces first of all is really glorious.

With the exception of one incident, which stricter people than myself would call a regular fleecing on the part of the Custom House at Milan, whereby I parted with about 70 francs as a fine for having brought 50 cigars (!), all my journey pa.s.sed off very well. At Zurich I met with the same kind reception on the part of several members of the Committee--with the President of the town, Mr. Roemer, at their head--as at the Musical Festival last July.

The proprietor of the Bellevue Hotel, Mr. Pohl (no relation to his namesake at Baden), insisted on my accepting gratis a charming room, with dinners, suppers and excellent wines. Such munificence would have given a fit of fever to the late Hemleb of the Erbprinz, and his a.s.sociates will scarcely imitate Mr. Pohl's amiable proceeding. So I will beg you to recommend the very comfortable Hotel Bellevue, in the front ranks, to any of your friends and acquaintances who may pa.s.s through Zurich. Without promising that they will be received gratis, I can a.s.sure them that they will find the beautiful view on to the lake, good rooms, an excellent cuisine, and attentive service. The Duke of Altenburg and other princes have stayed in it, and inscribed their names in the hotel alb.u.m.

Your friend Ada Pinelli is still here with the Princess Hatzfeld, at Palazzo Malipieri. I shall go and see her tomorrow. I shall, however, practise great sobriety in the matter of visits. Wagner does not pay any, and I shall imitate him on this point to the best of my ability. My ill.u.s.trious friend has lodged me splendidly in a s.p.a.cious apartment of the Palazzo Vendramin, which formerly belonged to Madame la d.u.c.h.esse de Berry. Her son, the Duke della Grazia, is at present the owner of it, and Wagner is the tenant for one year. The beautiful furniture still bears the impress of the old princely regime, and is perfectly preserved. The main inhabited part of the Palazzo Vendramin is in the best possible condition, so that Wagner did not have to go to any special expense, not even for stoves and other requisites, which are often neglected.

Ever since my first stay in 1837 I have been enamoured of Venice: this feeling will not grow less this time, but quite the contrary.

Cordial and very devoted friendship.