Yours faithfully,
F. Liszt
November 16th, 1880 (Villa d'Este,) Tivoli
[The Lisztt-Festival given by the Societe de Musique d'Anvers took place on the 26th May, 1881, under Benoit's direction, in Antwerp. The programme comprised the Gran Mass; the E flat Concerto, played by Fran Falk-Mehlig; the Dance of Death, played by Zarembski; Mignon and other songs, sung by the ladies Kufferath and Schauenburg; and the Preludes.
In a second Festival-Concert on 29th May, arranged by Liszt's former pupil F. von Servais and Jules de Zarembski, Tasso and the Faust Symphony, the Concerto Pathetique (played by M. and Mme. Zarembski), and "Loreley" with orchestra (Mdlle. Kufferath) were performed. Gevaert, the celebrated musical savant, apostrophised Liszt in the opening speech as "the incomparable Virtuoso whose prestige has never been surpassed, nor even equalled; the prolific and inspired composer, who in the numerous domains of Art which he has touched has opened new roads, explored new shores, and left everywhere the luminous imprint of his bold and innovating genius; the eminent head of a School, who may without exaggeration be described as the initiator, par excellence, of the musical movement of our epoch; one of those rare favorites of the gods for whom posterity begins even during their life-time," etc.]
270. To Sophie Menter
Dear, Highly Valued Friend,
If I rightly understand your letter and telegram you are soon going to Paris and London, and also soon coming to Rome. When?— tell me this clearly. A Roman Sophie Menter Concert is easily arranged and will be a great pleasure for me.
Although introductions from me are quite superfluous for you, I beg you to consider them always at your disposal. The best person to safeguard your interests with the German Ambassadors in France and England will be Frau Grafin Schleinitz. Alter, shorten and improve anything you like in the Fantaisie on the Huguenots. Pieces of this sort ought only to be brought forward by super- eminent virtuosi—Sophie Menter, for instance. The transcriber then hardly serves as "Klecks." [Klecks is the name of Mme. Menter's favorite cat.]
Yours cordially,