Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-02-01 / 6. szám
Tea with Liszt In November-December of 1846, the Hungarian musical genius Franz Liszt gave a series of concerts in Kolozsvár, at the time the capital of Transylvania, and then still part of Hungary. A young woman writer, Lujza malomvizi Malom was present at Liszt's performances, and even had him as an honored guest in her home. This is her description of these events, taken from her letter dated December 4th, 1846, addressed to Gábor Döbrentei, a close family friend, and first director of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: “And now let me tell you about Liszt -Liszt, who is currently making history in Kolozsvár; who is the topic of every conversation and is on everyone's mind; for whom luncheons and parties are constantly given in the highest circles, to whom people are constantly paying their respects and in whose honor there are torchlight musical evenings and poetry recitals. He has already given three concerts in two weeks. The fourth one will be on Sunday. The concert hall and the theater are always jammed full when he plays. He is a really great artist.” “For me, who so passionately love music, and have never been able to hear such perfection in our isolated little home, the first effect of his playing was like a storm. I was lost in wonder, I was downcast, I was as tired as if I had walked a long, long way. I couldn't speak, what's more, I barely breathed.” “The second and third time, I enjoyed his playing with delight, and no matter how often I might still hear him, it would always enchant me. I'm angry at those who like to find fault in something which, in grandeur, surpasses every carping tendency. One doesn't like the style of his hair, another regards his enthusiasm as a caricature, a third —already an art critic! —pretends to have heard false notes in his bold harmonies . However, the whole audience becomes electrified and enthused on hearing him. People rave, call out loud, almost lose their mind, and the voice of the scomers is lost like the hum of a mosquito at the roar of a waterfall. I don't imagine there is anything extreme in the show of enthusiasm; no seemingly excited action shows the true greatness of the emotions, and only the unfeeling can regard as extreme what flows from the riotous heat of feelings. On the other hand, the calm, sober mind also has its own truths; and although being able to hear Liszt is a totally surprising, new delight for me, it will be good if he doesn't stay here for too long, because the purse suffers great mutilation on his account.” “Although we Hungarians are all on fire for Liszt, the Saxons are snappishly against him. Liszt had previously gone to Szeben and given a concert there, for which he had printed Hungarian posters and Hungarian tickets. At the end of the concert, the Saxons yelled ‘Erlkönig’, and some Hungarians who were present yelled ‘Rákóczy’, and he started in on the Rákóczy March. There was and still is trouble on that account. Some delegates from Szászszeben, Schmidt foremost, started to hiss. The following day, the musical society of Szeben sent a delegation to apologize to Liszt, because this impropriety occurred only out of political antipathy. They asked him to give another concert, and guaranteed him 600 pengő forint in proceeds. To which he drily replied: 'Even once was enough to make him sorry that he had ever played in Szeben!' The newspapers too were up in arms.” “I do not wish to go into details of this, suffice it to say that, on his way to Bucharest over Veres Torony, Liszt will not give any more concerts in Szeben, but rather in Enyed, and for the delegate, who is such a great connoisseur of art, a wonderful mock serenade (“macskazene”) is in preparation, for which I too have offered a great resounding mortar.” And a few days later, she wrote: “My dear Uncle! What joy I had yesterday. Brassai, that brave man, brought Liszt home to us! He was here for some two hours, and I took great delight in his witty conversation. Upon leaving, he expressed his regret at having made our acquaintance only so late, and promised that if he returns -perhaps in the spring -he will come to see us more often. Today this famous compatriot of ours left Kolozsvár, and I praise the year 1846 for having brought to our house such famous individuals as Döbrentei, Neugebaur, Liszt, as well as some lesser lights.” (Translated from the Hungarian by Erika Papp Faber) The pen-and-ink drawing of Liszt was done by Harry Furniss, the renowned Victorian caricaturist and illustrator in the early 1880s. Dr Louis Szathmary donated the original to the library of Boston University in 1986 along with his Liszt collection. Portrait of Franz Liszt by Viktor Madarász '1 A ;{" -Page 6
