Will be justified, and even by Music! In France and Germany we
are far from this - and classical Pharisaism swells its voice
there to make a diversion to Mercantilism, that rich disgraceful
one, who succeeds perfectly well in making the principal papers
and their numerous readers dance to the sounds of his harsh
flute, whilst his antagonist (Pharisaism) only ends in
"Improperias" and "Jeremiads"...not composed by Palestrina!
Your choice of the introduction to the second act of the
Fliegender Hollander seems to me an excellent one, and I shall
get the score (of this scene) copied for you, as it is very
difficult to get a complete score of the Opera, and as I only
possess the autograph, with which it would be a matter of
conscience to me to part. In about a fortnight I will send you
what you want for your programme.
Princess Marie Hohenlohe is at the present time at St.
Petersburg, and will be much delighted to see you again. Her
husband does a good deal in the way of music, and plays several
"Lieder ohne Worte" of his own composition very nicely. He and
his wife will assuredly have pleasure in being amongst the first
to applaud at the time of the performances of your Opera in
Vienna.
A revoir then, my dear Rubinstein, in the spring - and ever yours
in sincere esteem and affection,
F. Liszt
Weymar, December 3rd, 1859
P.S. - When you see Mademoiselle Ingeborg Stark, please give her
my very affectionate remembrances. If her journey from Paris
should bring her back by Weymar she would be sure to find me
there; for, in spite of what the papers say, which, among other
fancies, have taken it into their heads to make me travel hither
and thither, I shall not stir from here for several months, but
continue to work my best - if only to prove to the "kindly critic"
and the idlers that it is very much to be regretted that I should
have taken it into my head to turn composer! - This recalls the
proverb, "On devient cuisinier, mais on nait rotisseur!"
[There does not seem to be any equivalent to this proverb in
English: the nearest approach to it is, perhaps, "A poet is born,
not made."]
227. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,
It is of great consequence to me not to delay any longer the
publication of my "Gesammelte Lieder." Forgive me, therefore, if
today I am somewhat troublesome to your friendship.. - .
It seems to me that the best plan would be if, before you confer
with Herr Schulze, you would first have a consultation with
Klemm, and come to a thorough understanding on the matter with
him. [Liszt evidently wished to have the songs engraved first at
his own cost, and to let Klemm undertake the sale on commission.]
Beg him also, in my name, to show a friendly sympathy to the
work. The songs can hold their ground in their present form
(regardless of the criticism of our choking and quarrelling
opponents which will infallibly follow!); and if a few singers
could be found, not of the raw and superficial kind, who would
boldly venture to sing songs by the notorious non-composer, Franz
Liszt, they would probably find a public for them.
I think I told you that a couple of them made a furore in certain
salons which are very much set against me, as posthumous songs of
Schubert, and were encored! - Of course I have begged the singer
to carry the joke on further.
Klemm need not therefore be in the least ashamed of undertaking
the publication of the work in a friendly spirit.
Best thanks beforehand for your kind trouble in this matter - and
ever faithfully yours,
F. Liszt
Weymar, December 6th, 1859
P.S. - I have just received your letter. The two K.'s - Kompel and
Kahnt - shall be made most welcome. Pohl had already told me of
Kahnt's coming; it will be a pleasure to me not to verlangweilen
[To make the time hang heavily] his visit here (if that word is
not quite German, still I consider it is comprehensible!). Julius
Schuberth had also the intention of rescuing something [Namely,
Liszt's composition] from Kuehn. [Music publisher] Your idea of
giving Bronsart the conductorship of the Euterpe Concerts is a
most excellent one. I suppose the letter which I wrote about this
to P. Fischer (to your address) came to hand (?). The day before
yesterday I also let Bronsart know that possibly some favorable
openings might occur for him in Leipzig, and recommended him not
to neglect them. Bronsart would be just in his right post in
Leipzig, and I do not doubt that he would in every respect
maintain it in the most honorable manner. In addition to this, it
would be especially agreeable to me to begin constant intercourse
with him as my next neighbor. He is now working at his Opera, and
sent me a little while ago the libretto which he has himself
composed to it, and which seems to me very successful in the most
important scenes, as well as in the dialogue. [It was afterwards
composed by his wife ("King Hiarne").]
Address your letters to "Herr von Bronsart, c/o Herr General von
Bronsart, Commandant of Dantzig, Dantzig."
In consequence of the performance of my Mass in Munich (on the
King's birthday, at the end of November), which, as I am told on
many sides, was well given and - which seems wonderful - was
acknowledged by many musicians there to be a work of importance -
so that even Lachner spoke favorably of it - the "Allgemezne"
Zeftung again breathes forth poison and gall (supplement of 3rd
December), without forgetting therewith the "Neue Zeitschrift fur
Musik." I should like to take the opportunity of making this pack
of critics, such as W., B., G., B., and whatever all the
assistants' assistants are called, understand the following
thoughts as Xenie:
