LISZT Franz (1811-1886)

Lot 25
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1000 - 1500 EUR
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Result : 3 900EUR
LISZT Franz (1811-1886)
L.A.S. "F. Liszt ", Avignon 6 May 1845, to Joseph AUTRAN; 4 pages in-4 (cracks in the folds repaired with tape). Important letter concerning his project for an oratorio after Dante's Inferno on a poem by Autran. [Eight days later, Liszt will send the poet an annotated copy of The Divine Comedy]. The letter begins with two lines of points testifying to a "crowd of unspeakable thanks [...] Already last year I was all for you; but today it seems to me that there is still something more serious and more tender in the friendship that I will always keep for you. But to follow the new precept of Mr. Marquis de Forbin-Janson who wants us to keep fair terms in all things, let us pass (not over or under) but to the fact, and this fact leads us straight to Hell. I have just reread the DANTE, and I am entirely of your opinion as to the impersonal account. But on the other hand, I believe that it will be necessary to have at least several categories of the damned speak personally (in chorus and also in shorter solos)"... He quotes a verse of Autran: "We are the waves and the waves", with, in echo: "We are the heresiarchs", and proposes, "to vary, perhaps it would be good that in a circle or 2 the invisible spirits in charge of tormenting these poor souls take charge themselves of explaining to the public the crimes of the reprobates; - some literary and musical pont-neuf in this kind "Woe to you, who spent your nights in feasts and orgies (follows the indication of the torment as a contrast); curse on you"; etc. etc."... He develops this idea of repetition by recalling an example in Victor HUGO's Lucretia Borgia, taken up again in the opera Lucrezia Borgia: "I am Maffei Orsini, whose murder you have... (I don't remember which relative and to what degree)... I am such and such". This situation provided the material for an excellent finale to DONIZETTI, and in our work this form will be quite natural and more striking than any other. Read again the end of the first act of Lucretia Borgia and if you find it good, use it. There will be matter for a very piquant chorus of the prodigals and the avaricious tied together and shocking each other and cursing each other... In almost all circles, the framework seems to me to be excellent - it is up to you to fill it. Of course you must keep and make sing the supreme verses: "Per me si va nella città dolente "Per me si va nell'eterno dolore; "Lasciate ogni speranza, etc. and then these again "Nessun maggior dolor "Che ricordarsi del tempo felice "Nella miseria - In general, don't be afraid of drawing the main figures epically; don't even flinch from Homer and Alexander if need be... I will try to daub them with color as best I can. - Forgive me, dear friend, for speaking to you in this way about such a serious work. There is a French proverb, I believe, which says "Bete comme un musicien". I will console myself perfectly for my stupidity on the condition of being a true musician, and of making you a beautiful hell "...
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