F. Liszt

Weimar, May 30th, 1884

342. To Baron Friedrich Podmaniczky, Intendant of the Hungarian Opera in Budapest

[From a rough copy in Liszt's own handwriting in the possession of Abranyi]

[1884]

Monsieur le Baron,

I have begged my friend M. de Mihalovich to lay before you a proposition, the fate of which depends on the committee that directs the orders for the sculptures of the new National Hungarian Theater.

In my humble opinion it would be unjust, and even ungrateful, to exclude from them the likenesses of two composers of high distinction, the late Mosonyi and Franz Doppler.

A charming Opera of Mosonyi's of elevated taste, "Szep Ilonka"

["The fair Helen": its subject, like that of his other Opera "Almos," was taken from Hungarian history], has been performed here some dozen times with success, and was then consigned to oblivion in the oubliettes of the administration. Another greater dramatic work by Mosonyi, "Almos," has remained in ma.n.u.script, although Baron Orczy, your predecessor as Intendant, had some idea of producing it.

The whole of the brave musical activity of Mosonyi at Budapest is most honorable and meritorious, as much by his teaching as by his numerous compositions of Church music, orchestral music, and piano music. Many of his Hungarian pieces remain cla.s.sical, as opposed to the current wares, supposed to be of this same kind, more frequently heard (at the present time in Vienna).

Franz Doppler has left the best possible remembrance of his rare talents and qualities at Budapest, where during many years he fulfilled the duties of conductor to the theater, and shone by his virtuosity (very celebrated in Europe) as a flute player--an instrument which Frederick the Great condescended to use.

Doppler's Operas "Beniowszky" and "Ilka" were favorably received; and up to the present time "Ilka" is the only Hungarian opera admitted to the repertoire of several theaters in Germany.

Besides this Doppler has also written two acts of the "Elizabeth"

[The opera "Elizabeth," composed by Franz Erkel and Doppler, was performed at the National Theater in 1857], by which Her Majesty the Queen of Hungary was entertained at the theater of Budapest.

I venture then, Monsieur le Baron, to recommend you to see about the desirability of placing two fine reliefs of Mosonyi and Doppler [The reliefs adorn the vestibule of the opera house.] in a suitable position in the new theater in the Radialstra.s.se, and beg you to accept the expression of my high esteem and sincere devotion.

F. Liszt

343. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen

Dear Freiherr,

My admiration remains unlimited for the sublime genius of Wagner.

What blissful creative power and influence has he not, ever active from "Tannhauser" to the "Ring des Nibelungen" and the marvellous "Parsifal."--

The Art of our century finds its foundation and glory therein.

The little that I have written in letters about Wagner is at the service of the public.

With highest esteem yours most truly,

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 18th, 1884

To our friendly meeting in Bayreuth in the middle of July.

344. To the Concert-Singer Auguste Gotze

[Daughter of Professor Franz Gotze, and--as one of the first singing mistresses of the present day--the inheritor of his school; she is also a talented singer, reciter, and dramatic poetess. She lives at Leipzig.]

Dear Friend,

In honor of you I will willingly endeavor to add the melodramatic accompaniment to Felix Dahn's poem. ["Die Mette von Marienburg"

[The Matins of Marienburg] Liszt's intention remained, alas, unfulfilled.] This short work will only require a few hours but I can seldom get any free hours for working...All sorts of interruptions keep me from writing.

Hearty greetings to your charming colleague, Fraulein von Kotzebue.

High esteem from your friendly

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 22nd, 1884.

345 To Kornel von Abranyi

Dear, excellent Friend,

The best person to make a suitable instrumentation of the "Rheinweinliedes" [Rhine-wine-song] for the Miskolcz Musical Festival will be our friend C. Huber. [Carl Huber, conductor of the Hungarian Provincial Singers' Union, died 1885.] This chorus for men's voices was written in Berlin in the year '42, and performed there several times, and afterwards in Leipzig also, about which a "querelle d'Allermand" [groundless quarrel] soon reached me in Paris.--

To bear and forbear is ever our life's task.

As I have marked on the accompanying copy, on pages 3, 5, 7, instead of D-flat, G-flat in the 2nd tenor, the C, F

[Here, Liszt ill.u.s.trates with a musical score excerpt showing a cadence in B-flat]

is to remain.

The Gazette de Hongrie [Gazette of Hungary], and still more the Budapester Tageblatt [Budapest daily paper], in which your son Kornel is a collaborator, gave me the tidings of the election doings in the cara patria.

Without in the least taking part in politics, yet I take that interest in them which it behoves every not uneducated man to do; and I rejoice that Kornel Abranyi, junior, is taking his seat in Parliament.

Heartily, faithfully yours,

F. Liszt

Weimar, July 1st, 1884

From the 12th July till the middle of August I shall be at Bayreuth.