MUSIC - Daniel Liszt (Rome 1839 - Berlin 1859)... Lot n° 31

Daniel Liszt (Rome 1839 - Berlin 1859) Rare autograph letter signed “D. Liszt”, dated “3 octobre 57”, by the son of Franz Liszt and Marie d'Agoult (writer under the name Daniel Stern). Daniel addresses his childhood friend Marie de Wittgenstein (1837-1920), daughter of Princess Caroline de Sayn-Wittgenstein (1819-1887), Franz Liszt's companion from 1847 to 1861: “Chère Magnolette, Si je ne me trompe, vous m'avez supposé le projet ultra- sournois d'allonger insensiblement le caoutchouc des chainons qui composent notre correspondance…”, wrote Daniel to his childhood friend. After reading the message from her mother, Princess Caroline, he is “…convaincu de mensonge…” and no longer thinks of defending himself. He obviously prefers to change his tune by talking about his studies: “…Les cours de droit vont commencer bientôt. Je compte écrire à mon père lorsque je pourrai lui donner un comple-rendu circonstancié…. Pour le moment je suis dans une attente qui n'a rien de particulièrement agréable”, comparing himself to “...une persone qui arrive à la gare du chemin de fer quelques heures avant le départ…”, but consoling himself with the idea that in a few days he'll be on the move by “…regardant plus souvent la terre qu'il faut creuser, que les corneilles que l'on ne peut pas faire rôtir…”. He announced that he would soon be writing a longer letter, was delighted to learn that his correspondent's mother was doing better, and promised to write back to her “avant peu”. Daniel Liszt died of tuberculosis in Berlin at the age of 20. Autographs of this son of Franz Liszt are extremely rare!