Liszt, Franz.

addressing his mentor as "Cher père" and describing the pressures of his ceaseless concert schedule, explaining that he has been playing, composing and correcting music for a fortnight without rest, since even before his arrival, posters had been put all over the town committing him to perform, so that he has been toiling day and night to prepare the music for his recitals; he recalls the solace he found with Lamennais at La Chênaie, urging him to come and visit him [and Marie d'Agoult] for a month at the end of the winter ("...nous avons tant besoin de vous..."), expressing his plan to visit là bas in the spring, admitting that he has not been able to meet Lemonier, Ballanche, Madame de Vaux or Leurat  ("...Figurez-vous que même avant mon arrivée ici on m'avait annoncé affiché et placardé en grosses lettres à tous les coins de rue et que pour faire face à tous ces malheureux Concerts, j'ai eté obligé de passer jours et nuits à ecrire, corriger et studier mes miserables quadruples croches...")



3 pages, 8vo, c.20 x 13.3cms, with autograph deletions and emendations, autograph integral address panel, stamped and franked: [Paris] "4 Nov[ember] 1834", seal tear affecting one word, inscribed at head in 2 other hands.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Abbé Lamennais was Liszt's intellectual and spiritual mentor during the young composer's early period in France.  Liszt's first important compositions, notably the Harmonies poétiques et réligieuses date from the summer he had spent at Lamennais's house near Dinan in Brittany. This was also the time of Liszt's long love-affair with Marie d'Agoult.

For important letters by Bettina von Arnim about Liszt, Spontini and an unidentified composer, please see lots 40-42.