Evening star., 1953-10-25
News of Music

More and more, reVelatory
facts are coming to public
view to increase the knowl-
edge of the character and
life of the great immortals in
music. Everything discovered
and put out in accessible form
is of extreme value not only
in appraiSing the artistry of the
early musicians but in opening
the interpreters eyes when
performing their music. Thus
the links between the past and
the present are strengthened.
The outlines of Franz Liszt'S
stormy, glamorous and roman
tic career and life are we'll
known. The many published
collections of letters concerning
him give an adequate picture
of the great pianist and COM
poser and much of his philoso-
ply of existence. Now, how
ever. with the release of LISTS
letters to Marie zu Sayn-Witt-
genStein, the daughter of the
Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-
WittgenStein, another angle of
the celebrated artist is dis
closed. In them he passes
from the stage of paternal
affection for a charming and
gifted child to that of mentor
of gracious lady married to
Prince Constantin Won Hohen-
lohe, and finally to a friend who
needed her sympathy and
sometimes her guidance.
Cover 80 Years
The letters, published by the
Harvard University Press, were
bought by Mrs. Robert Woods
Bliss and her mother in 1881
from the Swiss muSicologist,
Robert Bory, through the ef-
forts Of Ernest Smelling. The
correspondence later became
part of the Dumbarton Oaks
collection and the property of
the Harvard University. The
present work is published in
the translation and editing Of
Howard E. Hugo.
The 215 letters cover a period
from 1848, when LiSZt started
his career as a serious COM
poser, to three months before
his death in 1886. AS preface
to some sets of letters, Mr..
Hugo has 1nterSpersed bio
gra phic a / information that
clarifies and makes under
standable the contents of the
letters. Much Of this, and the
Introduction, are colored by
Mr.. Hugo'S personal estimate
of Liszt and his very evident
intolerance Of anything of the
romantic era.
What can be read between
the lines of the letters is the
disclosure of aspects Of the
artists character not generally
known. His playfulnesS, for in
stance, in the nonSenSe-hlled
letters to the child, and the
numerous nicknameS by which
he called both Marie and her
mother, the Princess Carolyne, i
whom List sought so vainly
to marry. His constant affec-
tion-"This comes to tell you
sweetly that ! love you very
tenderly" - and his religious
faith-"Pray to God for all
three Of US who are Of one
heart and soGl-Then later,
when she travelled abroad,
and in her own home received
high-ranking guests, he coun-
seled her what to see In various
cities and how to act as host
eSS.
Wide Interests
AS Marie grew older, she
proved to be a highly cultured
woman and many were the
exchanges of opinions about
painters, writer's, musicians
and notable dignitaries. LISTS
wide interest in all the arts
must have Spurred her to know
of them for herself. When she
became the wife of Prince
Constantine, the nicknameS
and nonsense were abandoned
and the form of address was
always the formal "Your High
ness"
It is interesting to note, in
the last letters, how well Liszt
appraised the great change
that came over his beloved
Princess Carolyne. He real
lied, when the marriage plans
ended so disaStrously, the i'm
possibility of any close spirit
ual union with her but was
nevertheless indulgent and
loving. Hug our dear Minette
princess Carolyne) and kiss
her hands for me-both of you
tell each other how much I
love you through God and for
all eternity" But what went
on in his heart and mind in