LISZT (Franz). - Lot 188

LISZT (Franz). Born in Doborján (Hungary). Composer and virtuoso pianist. Draft of a personal letter "F L" to "Excellence" (Charles-Alexandre of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach?). No place, no date. 1 page, 3/4 in-8. Draft of a letter concerning the Allgemeiner Deutscher Musikverein, the musical association founded by Franz Liszt in 1861 in Weimar with Franz Brendel to embody the musical ideals of the new German school; Liszt thanks him for forwarding the bequest from a generous donor—Madame de Muchanow—in favor of the “Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein” and the “Beethoven Stiftung” [Beethoven Foundation]...I will determine the use that best aligns with the noble intentions of the illustrious donor, who deserves more than the most brilliant tributes we were happy to bestow upon her and whom we revere from the bottom of our hearts: Soon, the Committee—which has the honor of counting V. E. among its members, will have the honor of extending its most grateful thanks to you and informing Your Excellency of the distribution of the two thousand thalers that I am holding in trust until my return to Weimar (in early August). Shortly, the Committee of our Musik Verein will have the honor of expressing its deepest gratitude to Your Excellency and informing you of the distribution of the two thousand thalers that I am holding in trust until my return to Weimar—at the beginning of April... Countess Maria Kalergis-Muchanow (née Nesselrode, 1822–1874), a Polish pianist (who received lessons from Chopin) and patron of the arts, hosted a salon in Paris frequented by numerous French and European artists, including Chopin, Liszt, Rossini, Heine, Gautier, and Musset.... A friend of Cosima, Liszt’s daughter, who married Wagner, she intervened to ensure that the German composer could have his opera *Tannhäuser* performed in Paris. Franz Liszt dedicated several pieces to her, including the *Petite Valse Favorite*, and, upon her death in 1874, composed the *Piano Elegy No. 1*. Maria Muchanow was instrumental in founding the Music Institute in Warsaw and the Warsaw Musical Society. In October 1842, Liszt had been appointed “Kapellmeister in außerordentlichen Diensten” (Kapellmeister for extraordinary services) in Weimar by Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, one of the patrons of Richard Wagner and Liszt. The project for the Allgemeiner Deutscher Musikverein arose much later, in the 1860s, out of a failed attempt to establish a Goethe Foundation to support the arts. Liszt’s initiative was a resounding success. The bylaws of the new association were filed in 1861. Over the years, the association became the trustee of several foundations, including the Beethoven-Stiftung (Beethoven Foundation) in 1871, which was funded and enriched by donations, notably from Grand Duke Charles Alexander of Saxe-Weimar.