Volume II Part 17 (1/2)

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TELEGRAM

TO R WAGNER, ZELTWEG, ZURICH

Yesterday ”Tannhauser” Excellent performance Marvellous mise- en-scene Much applause Good luck

F LISZT

BERLIN, January 8th, 1856

2O9

DEAREST RICHARD,

Froo to bed for a few days, and to delayI have to supple notes:--

Johanna was beautiful to see and touching to hear as Elizabeth

In the duet with Tannhauser she had soreat scene in the finale she sang and realised in an incomparable manner Formes's intonation was firue in the narration, where his sonorous, powerful voice told adhly satisfactory, in spite of his small stature, which, especially by the side of Johanna, somewhat interferes with the illusion Herr Radwaner as Wolfrah not equal to our Milde, deserves reeable style of singing hich he executed his part; and Madame Tuczek proved herself to be an excellent musician and a well-trained actress, who may be confidently intrusted with the most difficult part Dorn and the band took every pains to carry out your intentions, and the orchestral perforhout successful, with the exception of trong tener illustrates with a 2-bar otten to mark the tempo as piu moderato, that is ale (before the ensemble in B major), which, in my opinion, was also taken too fast, the rhyth considerably impaired thereby

The chorus had studied its part well, but it is much too weak for Berlin, and in proportion to the vastness of the opera house, scarcely reat dissatisfaction The stringed instruments, also, are not sufficiently nuood third For a large place like this eight to ten double basses, and fifteen to twenty first violins, etc, would certainly not be too many at important perfor of ”Tannhauser” left nothing to be desired, and I can assure you that never and nowhere have I seen anything so splendid and admirable Gropius and Herr von Hulsen have really done so extraordinary and most tasteful You have heard, no doubt, that his Majesty the King had ordered the decorations of the second act to be faithfully reproduced after the designs for the restoration of the Wartburg, and that he had sent Gropius to Eisenach for the purpose The aspect of the hall with all the historic banners, and the costumes taken fro the reception of the guests by the Landgrave, gave eradual filling up of the valley by the gathering of the hunt (four horses and a falcon bringing up the rear) in the finale of the first act; and, finally, the fifteen trumpets in the march of the second act

[Musical notation]

which blew their flourish froallery of the hall in a bold and defiant manner

I only hope, dearest Richard, that you will hear and see all this before very long, and when I pay you a visit in the course of the summer, we shall have some more talk about it

Your last letter was very sad and bitter Your illness must have put you out still more, and, unfortunately, your friends can do little to relieve you If the consciousness of the most sincere and cordial cos can be of any comfort to you, you may rely upon me in fullest measure, for I do not believe that there arewith such real and continual syo to work and finish your ”Valkyrie” The first two acts I returned to you Youthem to me at Zurich

I have to ask you yet another favour today Schlesinger, of Berlin, is bringing out a new edition of the scores of Gluck's overtures, which is dedicated to me, and he wishes to print your close of the overture of ”Iphigenia in Aulis” in addition to that by Mozart For that purpose he wants your special peret it from you If you have no objection to this close--which has already been published in Brendel's paper-- appearing in this edition, be kind enough to give me your consent in a few lines, and address your letter, ”Hotel Zur Kaiserin von Oestreich,” Vienna, for which I start to-night

I shall conduct the two concerts for the Mozart centenary celebration on the 27th and 28th instant, and shall be back in Weymar on February 4th

Your speedy recovery and patience is the ith all his heart, dearest Richard, of

Your faithful

F LISZT

WEYMAR, January 14th, 1856

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