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BERLIOZ, Hector (1803-1869). Autograph letter signed to Carolyne, Princess Sayn-Wittgenstein, Paris, 7 January 1859, professing his gratitude to her, telling her how he imagines her and Liszt at Weimar and how wholeheartedly he wishes he were with them, writing of his nervous condition and giving news of Les Troyens, 'Rien de nouveau dans le monde antique; Cassandre s'agite et ses grands yeux noirs lancent toujours de...éclairs; Didon est toujours languissante; la belle Anna soror semble devenir le triste avenir de Carthage; Enée obéit à ses Dieux (Pardon, je viens de committer un alexandrin). Beaucoup de voix amies répètent: Stat Roma! mais c'est faux, Rome n'est pas encore', black ink, 4 pages on a bifolium, 8vo (207 x 133mm).
Almost the first two pages of the letter are taken over by Berlioz's description of his nervous state, 'Les médecins disent que j'ai une inflammation générale du système nervaux, de l'arbre nervaux...qu'il me faut vivre comme une huitre, ne pas penser, ne rien sentir...Figurez vous que j'ai des jours d'hystérie comme une jeune fille'. Once he forces himself away from a description of his condition, Berlioz writes that the Princess's letter and the one from Liszt have brought him up to date on life at Weimar, as did seeing Mme Viardot (i.e. Pauline Viardot, the great singer) recently. Fondly Berlioz imagines himself at the Altenburg, their evening conversations illuminated by the sweet smile of her daughter Princess Marie and hears the magnificent words of Liszt.
There follows the news from the 'ancient world'. At this time, Berlioz was revising Les Troyens and avidly soliciting support for staging the work, which he did by reading the poem to selected groups. Here he reports that the Prince Napoleon has requested him to read Les Troyens recently and that the Prince is going to arrange a soirée for that. Specifically Berlioz was working on the piano score but at the present time he does not have the courage to take up this work again. He hopes to return to the work next month. Berlioz does, however, have the courage not to dare to send Liszt the score which he has asked for.
This letter fully expresses the debt which Berlioz felt towards the Princess, whom he had first met during his stay in St Petersburg, for her encouragement of his work and demonstrates the importance of Liszt's circle at Weimar to him. Berlioz visited Liszt and the Princess and they both pushed him to write Les Troyens, which was finally produced in November 1863 at the Théâtre Lyrique.
The letter is published in Berlioz, correspondence générale, Paris, 1989, vol.5, no.2243.
Almost the first two pages of the letter are taken over by Berlioz's description of his nervous state, 'Les médecins disent que j'ai une inflammation générale du système nervaux, de l'arbre nervaux...qu'il me faut vivre comme une huitre, ne pas penser, ne rien sentir...Figurez vous que j'ai des jours d'hystérie comme une jeune fille'. Once he forces himself away from a description of his condition, Berlioz writes that the Princess's letter and the one from Liszt have brought him up to date on life at Weimar, as did seeing Mme Viardot (i.e. Pauline Viardot, the great singer) recently. Fondly Berlioz imagines himself at the Altenburg, their evening conversations illuminated by the sweet smile of her daughter Princess Marie and hears the magnificent words of Liszt.
There follows the news from the 'ancient world'. At this time, Berlioz was revising Les Troyens and avidly soliciting support for staging the work, which he did by reading the poem to selected groups. Here he reports that the Prince Napoleon has requested him to read Les Troyens recently and that the Prince is going to arrange a soirée for that. Specifically Berlioz was working on the piano score but at the present time he does not have the courage to take up this work again. He hopes to return to the work next month. Berlioz does, however, have the courage not to dare to send Liszt the score which he has asked for.
This letter fully expresses the debt which Berlioz felt towards the Princess, whom he had first met during his stay in St Petersburg, for her encouragement of his work and demonstrates the importance of Liszt's circle at Weimar to him. Berlioz visited Liszt and the Princess and they both pushed him to write Les Troyens, which was finally produced in November 1863 at the Théâtre Lyrique.
The letter is published in Berlioz, correspondence générale, Paris, 1989, vol.5, no.2243.