Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 2   By: Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

The second volume of the Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt delves deeper into the personal and professional relationship between these two musical giants. The letters exchanged between Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt provide a fascinating insight into their creative processes, thoughts on music, and the challenges they faced in their respective careers.

The correspondence is marked by a deep sense of friendship and mutual respect, despite occasional disagreements and differences in opinion. Liszt's unwavering support for Wagner's work is evident throughout the letters, as he offers encouragement and constructive criticism.

The letters also shed light on the broader cultural and political contexts of 19th-century Europe, with discussions on the role of art in society and the challenges of navigating the turbulent political climate of the time.

Overall, this second volume of the Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt is a must-read for music lovers, historians, and anyone interested in the lives and works of these iconic composers. It offers a poignant and illuminating glimpse into the minds of two musical geniuses as they navigate the complexities of art, life, and friendship.

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The German musical genius Richard Wagner (1811 1883) could be considered to be one of the ideological fathers of early 20th century German nationalism. He was well suited for this role. Highly intelligent, sophisticated, complex, capable of imagining whole systems of humanistic philosophy, and with an intense need to communicate his ideas, he created great operas which, in addition to their artistic merits, served the peculiar role of promoting a jingoistic, chauvenistic kind of Germanism. There are things in his operas that only a German can fully understand, especially if he would like to see his country closed off to outsiders. It is unlikely, however, that Wagner expected these ideas to achieve any popularity. Time and again he rails against philistines, irrational people and politicians in his letters. With great exasperation and often depression he expressed little hope that his country would ever emerge out of its "philistinism" and embrace "rational" ideas such as he propagated... Continue reading book >>