Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 75

Farewell till our next meeting in Easter week, dear cousin, from yours ever affectionately,

F. Liszt

Budapest, February 8th, 1884

One, and even two, letters from the Princess in the month of January have been lost.

337. To Camille Saint-Saens.

Very Dear and Most Excellent Friend,

Before I received your kind letter I had intimated to Baron Podmaniczki, the Intendant of the theater of Budapest, that he ought to esteem it an honor to give your Henry VIII.--a frightful personage in history, but brilliantly ill.u.s.trated by your beautiful music [an Opera by Saint-Satins]. The inauguration of the new theater will take place at the end of September with the St. Etienne, a new Opera by Erkel, the popular dramatic composer par excellence in Hungary. His Huvtyadi Laszlo was performed 250 times, and his "Bankban" more than 100, without ever over- reaching the mark. Two other works are promised after the St.

Etienne, so that your Henry VIII. cannot appear till '85, for it still has to be translated into Hungarian.

I spoke about it in Vienna to his Excellency Baron Hoffmann, the Intendant of the Imperial Theaters. He told me that your work is going to be given shortly at Prague, and that he will send his own conductor, M. Jahn, there, in order that it may be better looked after. I beg that you will send the piano score of Henry VIII. at once to M. le directeur Jahn (very influential), with a few polite lines; also to do the same to M. Erkel Sandor (son of the composer), conductor of the National Opera of Budapest.

Address to him "Theater National," Budapest.

Very much vexed to be unable to make a place for one of your grand works--such as your superb Ma.s.s or some Poeme symphonique-- in the programme of our next Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Weimar from the 23rd to the 28th May. Sauret is going to play your third Concerto, and I will send you this overloaded programme. If you came to hear it, it would be a very great pleasure to

Your admiringly and cordially attached

F. Liszt

Weimar, April 29th, 1884

338. To Otto Lessmann

[Weimar,] May 7th, 1884

Dear Friend,

The motto of my Oratorio "Stanislaus" is "Religion and Fatherland." In the fragment (Orchestral Interlude) which will be given here at the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung the whole meaning of the work is made plain. [This remained unfinished, as is well known.]

Farewell till our speedy meeting.

Ever faithfully yours,

F. Liszt

339. To Camille Saint-Saens

Very dear Friend and Confrere,

I refused to suspect that there could be any ill-will against you at Budapest. Nevertheless I think it is strange and most unjust that your dramatic and symphonic works have not yet taken the place which is due to them in Hungary. I have explained myself clearly about them several times, but the theater menage, and even that of the Philharmonic Concerts, is formed outside of my influence. They are quite ready to accord me a general consideration, with the exception of arranging particular cases otherwise than I wished. For many people doubtful profits and manoeuvres contrary to their dignity exercise an irresistible attraction. The idea of honor seems to them too troublesome.

I shall not desist in the least from my conscientious propaganda of your 'Henry VIII' and other of your works. The new theater at Budapest will open (at the end of September) with the 'Roi St.

Etienne', [King Stephen] a grand Hungarian Opera by Erkel (senior). After that Baron Podmaniczky, the Intendant, has promised to give a new Opera by Goldmark, also Hungarian in subject, and another by Delibes. The "Henry VIII." should appear somewhere between these three. Its performance at Prague will determine that at Vienna, which will be soon, I hope. His Excellency Baron Hoffmann, the Intendant of the Imperial Theaters in Vienna, told me that he would send his artistic and musical conductor (at the Opera), M. Jahn, to Prague. It depends on the opinion of this person whether "Henry VIII." is given at Vienna.

When you come again to Weimar you are sure to be received there with sympathy, grat.i.tude and sincere admiration by your old attached friend,

F. Liszt

Weimar, May 18th, 1884

Thanks for the photograph. You will find it well placed here near a charming bust. The Court and town of Weimar keep their affectionate and kind sentiments towards you.

340. To Walter Bache

Dear honored Friend,

I am very gladly in accord with all your doings, and only protest against the sacrifice you have in the n.o.blest manner made for my severely criticised works.

The English edition of the "Elizabeth Legend" with your sister's translation delights me.

Tell Mr. Alfred Littleton he can send me the proof-sheets (bound) of the piano edition, and the score, to Weimar. Along with this the 4 four-hand pieces (published by Kahnt) might also be published. Would it be well perhaps to begin with these? Arrange about this as you like with Mr. Littleton. I have only to correct the proofs, which will quickly follow.

If you think it would do, I shall also add to the English edition a little Preface, in the form of a letter--addressed to Walter Bache.

By the same post today I send you the complete enormous programme of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung (going through 25 years). This evening they begin with the acting performance of the "Elizabeth Legend."

Auf Wiedersehen! [To our next meeting!]

I shall stay at Bayreuth from July 5th till the middle of August, and then come back to Weimar.

Faithfully and gratefully,

F. Liszt

Weimar, May 23rd, 1884

I have told Kahnt all that concerns himself in your letter.

341. To the Composer Carl Navratil in Prague

Dear Herr Navtatil,

I write in haste to tell you that Smetana's [Bohemian composer and pianist (1824-84).] death has moved me deeply. He was a genius. More in my next. In haste.