Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-27
Llszt at MeImar.

/ =
it 10 Franz List
''Ile Is a strange character, and has led a
romantic life he replied. Il have known
hin since he became famous The story
has not We. been written, and it is very
interesting one. When first met him he
was a mere boy. 1t was in Paris, and he
rapidly earned considerable reputation
About the same time Thalberg appeared and
introduced his school of playing. and soon
became the popular tavorite, overshadowing
the reputation Liszt had made. List re-
tired to Switzerland, quietly studied and
worked, was lost sight of and almost for
gotten in the musical world for some years,
when he re-appeared, made tour Of the
principal cities of Europe, and finally, at the
Opera les Italiens in Paris, created, per
haps, the greatest tur0re ever made by one
performer. lie alone appeared Tor a large
number Of consecutive nights. lie had four
pianos upon the stage
-Four pianos - What for ?''
We'll, the instruments were not made
/ then as they are now, and would not stand
the humping. lie has been known to break
the strings in all of them in one evening.
vt the end Of the Performance the ladies
would beg for the broken strings, and would
| have bracelets made out of them. Paganini
ioined List during this visit to Paris. The
TWO men We're great friends. and often play
ed together. 1t was shortly after this that
| he met the Countess D'Aoult. List was
! then in his prime, an Adonis in appearance,
and the idol Of the Paris b.Gu monde. The
countess was separated from her husband,
and List and she lived together for several
/ years. Two children We're born during the
time, a boy and u girl. The boy died. and
/ the daughter, Cessna, married ION Bulow.
/ the famous pianist She was afterwards
/ divorced from him, and married Richard
/ Wagner. Ii Is somewhat curious that the
/ daughter Of List should have been the wife
of Bulow and Wagner.
"For some years he travelled, went to all
the large cities Of Europe, and amassed a
| large fortune, then settled down at Weimar.
| Twas there he met the Russian princess,
/ NittSen>tein. and the events occurred which
/ led to his becoming an able. lie joined the
church to avoid marrying princess, but
she was neither young nor handsome or the
result might have been different. The lady
| Vestered him with her attentions she took
up her abode in his house with her daugh
ter. young and beautiful girl. Liszt tol-
| Grated II. bat it led to considerable scandal
in Weimar, and although they were both
received at the palace of the grand duke, 1t
was understood that their visits were 10 be
on different days. Finally Liszt left Wei
mar and went TO Rome, where he had an
audience of the Pope and played before his
holiness. lie remained in Rome a time and
..far,1 . l.,. sr h., aha ,to1 lla
was great iavorite Of Plus IN, who i
possessed of exquisite taste in art, and at
the request Of the musician the Pope made
him au able, a dignity which does not in
yolye any ecclesiastical duty, bat entails up
on the holder Of the rank certain restric-
tons pertaining to the priesthood, among
Others that of celibacy. Since that time
List has retired from public life, although
he appears once now and then, and his purse
and his talents are always ready At the call
of charity, particularly to aid any individual
OF public interest pertaining to the art to
which he has devoted his life
\ few days later reached Weimar. The
place has almost become 4 Mecca to
American travellers, for beneath the sod Of
the cemetery lie the bodies Of Goethe and
Schiller. On inquiring for Lists house, |
was directed TO point on hillside high
above the city, where house was perched
upon an apparently inaccessible precipice.
In a few minutes the door opened, and |
stood in the presence Of the man who had
talked with Beethoven, and was then con-
sdered the greatest musical genius Of his
age. A long, clean-shaven, massive face,
with clear-cut features and prominent chin,
framed in long, flowing dark hair, his gray
eyes full of fire his dress was long close
ly-buttoned black coat, showing a symmetri-
cal figure Of medium height with small and
well-shaped hands and feet \ pleasant
smile lit up his face as he advanced, shook
hands and bade me welcome to the Eagles
Nest, as he called his home. We sat and
talked on various subjects, on all of which
he was possessed of considerable inforna-
ton, : owing that he had been close OBJ
server men and things. lie asked great
many things about America, and then in
quircd why he did rot visit us lie shrugged
his shoulders and said he was getting too
old to think of visiting a new world. Then
he courteOusly asked me if | would like to
hear him play. "Of course | would He
sat down to the piano and played one of his
own sonatas, after which he extemporized,
producing some startling effects upon the
instrument lie then insisted upon my
playing, and would take no excuse, so /,
perforce, sat down in some trepidatiOn, but
the first chord struck produced no tone.
| tried again, with a not much better re-
suit. Then heard him quietly laughing,
and turning around 1 saw the Joke; | had
been trying to play on the famous Tomas
check piano. which was made for him a
practlcing instrument, and on which the
touch Is 50 heavy that an ordinary player can
scarcely produce a sound from it, yet he
PLAYS the most delicate piGliSSimO passages
upon it with apparent ease. Il will show
you my Erard, . said he, "if you will follow
me We ascended to the next floor, where
there were two large rooms, connected by
folding doors. The one was his dining
room; the other an extensive parl0r, luXu-
riously furnished. and containing the famous
"Erard' grand, presented to him by the
makers. Ii Is in this room that the delight
ful m1sIcai reunions take place, in several
OF wGich had the pleasure Of sharing.
These informal meetings take place tre-
quently, and all who have an earnest love
for the art, no matter of what station or
nationality, conld easily obtain an entire, but
the host has a thorough contempt for curl
osity mongers, who come merely to stare at
him to be able to say they have seen List.
A string quartet generally attended the
SUNDAY matlnees, and played very finely.
On the third floor of the house, where List
does most ci his work, and where his musi-
cal library is stored, there is in one room a
piano and organ combined, SO that he can
play on both at once and with these two
instruments he produces the most novel and
beautiful effects. Another room contains
his relies and curiosities. some of which he
holds almost in veneration. Chief among
them was Beethoven's 5 piano, the instrument
upon which the great master" had played.
Another was Mozart's spinet, in which the
tones were produced by the twitching of the
wire with piece of quill, a keyboard SINH
lar to the present one producing the move
ment.
There Is a general idea that List has fol
lowed his profession as teacher, and we
are frequently inflicted in this country by so
called List pupils" The fact is, he does
not teach at all in the ordinary meaning.
Young pianists showing evidence of talent
will obtain an introduction TO him and at
tend his musical reunions, TO which they
are always welcomed. and he will make
suggestions to them. 1t is a privilege he
accords to them-one that cannot be bought.
However men may differ about List and
his school, he stands away beyond his fel-
low-artists-a singular, grand character. \
clever woman once said that Thalberg was
the first of pianists, but that there was only
one List. His work seems the result of in
spiration rather than of study and labor. and
all who have ever met him cannot tail to
retain a kindly veneration for the most strik-
ing character among the musical geniuses OF
the nineteenth century.
1t is stated upon what appears TO be un-
impeachable authority, that the insect now
threatening the Northwestern crops is net
the Acridium Spectus, as We feared, but
simply the Gryllus Veridissimus. As every
roalor knoWc tho ae-idium SnpcfuS will