LISZT, Franz (1811-86). Autograph letter, signed ("F. Liszt"), to Hector Berlioz, Eiken, 20 August 1851. In French. Three-pages, 209 x 134mm, on blue paper, bifolium, on staging Berlioz's opera "Benvenuto Cellini" at Weimar.

LISZT, Franz (1811-86).  Autograph letter, signed ("F. Liszt"), to Hector Berlioz, Eiken, 20 August 1851. In French. Three-pages, 209 x 134mm, on blue paper, bifolium; [with] a letter addressed to Liszt by "M. Oustinoff", 12/24 June 1847, offering him a room at the Russian Embassy [in Constantinople] for a charity concert in aid of the poor of Pera. Liszt to Berlioz, on staging the latter's opera "Benvenuto Cellini" at Weimar the following winter. Liszt is delighted to hear that Berlioz approves of his plan to stage the opera and looks forward to receiving the score so he can have it translated and copied. The most likely date for performance will be 16 February 1852, during the birthday celebrations for the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, when a prestigious audience will be present. Liszt reassures Berlioz of the care he will take over rehearsals; as he has only one copyist he trusts he will have the separate voice and orchestral parts copied first, before the full score, but he is still confident he will be able to return Berlioz's own manuscript before the performances. "Je suis très charmé d’ apprendre que mon projet de faire représenter Benvenuto Cellini dans le courant de l’ hiver prochain à Weymar te convient, et j’ attends l’ arrivée de la Partition afin de mettre aussitôt à l’ œuvre traducteur, copiste, etc. … Il n’ est guère besoin je pense de te rassurer sur le soin et le zèle que je porterai aux répétitions et tu peux tenir pour très certain que Benvenuto Cellini sera representé à notre théâtre d’ une manière convenable et satisfaisante." The close personal and musical relationship between Liszt and Berlioz dated back to 1830 when Liszt attended the first performance of the "Symphonie Fantastique". In his role in Weimar, where he settled in 1848, Liszt made vigorous efforts to foster his friend's career, and especially to promote Berlioz's first full-length opera "Benvenuto Cellini", which had been a failure at its first performance in Paris in 1838. Liszt staged the work in Weimar in March and November 1852, and again in 1856 in a version revised by Berlioz in part on Liszt's recommendations. Provenance: "Property of a Lady", Christie's, 21 June 1989, lot 183.