Liszt, Franz, Austro-Hungarian composer (1811-1886). 14 autograph letter fragments, written in French and German, partly signed "FL".

No place, c.1870s.

8vo. 9 ff.

 35,000.00

Draft letters that for the greater part do not have an identifiable correpondent and that show a lot of cancellations. Amongst other things Liszt speaks about attacs on his person: "Before reading. (to Mme P.) I have not yet read the recollections in question; but from what has come back to me from it, the author enjoys to make me just as ridiculous as detestable. [...] to some scandals I would not know what to oppose but tacit decency that does not entrap me at all and leaves others the burden of their debasement. [...] one or the other [has] previously written to me numerous letters of excitement about the nobility of my character and the straightness of my feelings. Concerning this, I will not deny at all and I will continue to ascribe to them their remarkbale and brilliant talents of Artists, writers and inventors, fully regretting that they so strongly turn them against my poor person (page no. 1). The sesond page can be identified as a draft letter to the Hungarian Nobleman Albert Apponyi (1846-1933), to whom Liszt writes about the Academy of Music in Budapest, his interest in Hungarian art and his desire to be useful for his country: "at the chamber of deputies the said academy would be useful to emphasize art in Hungary; [...] Can one not take into account similar precendents now and set back when one is concerned with going forward? I cannot and I position myself in your view as wisely as favourably. Despite of the difficulties of a situation confused by different obsessions and despite of the smallness of our financial means we definitely have to return to our plan and not become unmanagable. Regarding my 'personal conveniences' that you are so kind as to worry about, let me assure you once more that I do not aspire anything else than this: the peace to work in my room. Orare et laborare. The point of honour that noone but you will understand better attaches me to Hungary, our home country. Could I fill it with all my duty of recognition!" At the end of this side a fragement of a letter written in German can be found: "Honoured friend, Strongly attached to you with my heart and my spirit, I am rarely and insufficiently sad to be able to show you my sincere friendship. Many thanks for your kind letter and its joyful notification." - In another draft Liszt mentions the Villa d'Este, Cosima and Wagner as well as his mother (Marie d'Agoult, alias Daniel Stern): "After your departure from the Villa d'Este I wrote to Cosima and also spoke to her about your last incriminated articles. She answers to me [...] 'the Italien hou [...] seemed superbe to me'! But what did not at all seem superbe to me but on the contrary repellent, shameful and disgusting was the cunning and frivolous behaviour of Cosima's mother against her daughter. I mention it to you confidentially. [...] (page no. 3).

Enclosed one photography of Liszt mounted on cardboard by Nadar, shortly before his death in 1886.

Provenance: Robert Bory, musicologist.

Stock Code: BN#31772 Tag: