Szerelmi álmok - Liszt (1970) - full transcript

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PART 2

Welcome, dear Carolyne.

Thank you

for your kind reception.

How was your trip?

The escape from Russia

was like a bad dream.

But your kindness

makes up for everything.

And I feel like a human being

at last. And free.

Yes, a forced marriage

must be hard to bear.

So they say and so I've read.

Enjoy yourselves in Weimar.

Thank you, Your Highness.

As your residence

I offer you Altenburg.

You will soon feel

at home there.

And if our friend Liszt

calls on you...

Call on her?

You see, my brother

has replied to my letter...

He consents, surely?

I would be happy

if it was so.

He refused?

The Tsar, though kindly,

can be adamant, too.

With me, he usually is the latter.

I'm afraid you've chosen

a bad advocate.

I will fight.

I will fight till...

You like fighting for others,

don't you?

Now you'll have to fight

for your own happiness.

So. We'll be torn apart?

Oh no.

But these are hard times.

In Europe

revolutions are raging.

So, if we agreed to

your living together...

we would legalize something

that...

- Your Highness has never been strict.

- Now I must be.

As Your Highness wishes.

The ministry has proved to be

entirely ineffective.

So the ministry

can go to hell.

The sooner we see

their behinds, the better.

Who would have thought

that Mr. Wagner was one of us?

He bawled me out like hell

because the stage door got stuck.

He is very strict.

As to the king, in the person of

Friedrich August IV,

he hasn't answered for anything,

so he couldn't do much harm.

The will of the people

is the noblest principle.

Let him be faithful to it

as long as he is king.

No, no, gentlemen.

I want to hear the melody.

The accompaniment

should hold back.

Once more, please.

Right from the beginning.

Ten minutes rest, gentlemen.

There is trouble.

The revolution in Dresden...

Succumbed.

Like in Vienna and Pest.

There's a warrant

for my arrest.

If I get caught, well...

And Minna?

I fled alone.

Fancy my wife coming with me.

She doesn't like

restless souls.

At the premiere of Tannhauser

the Grand Duke

offered me a post here

as second conductor

or as third at the worst.

Things have changed

in Germany.

But I'll talk

to the Grand Duke.

Meanwhile,

you'll be my guest.

No good.

It can't be done.

Why not?

The German princes have agreed

to extradite fugitive rebels.

Are they going to extradite me?

No. But you'd better leave

the Grand Duchy,

though it will be risky.

I wish our interest were as well

guarded as our sovereigns.

But I will present

Lohengrin,

even if there will be

a world wide scandal.

Liszt's person is to be spared.

How shall we recognize

Wagner?

He wouldn't take a step

without his beret.

Richard Wagner.

You're under arrest.

I'm the court music director,

Franz Liszt.

Franz Liszt!

You don't say.

What do you want, gentlemen?

Where is Wagner?

I don't know. Gone.

Let's go.

It's all right.

Thank God.

I don't like restless souls.

Your Majesty, Hungary

is lying at your feet.

Thank you, Duke.

Our faithful subjects

will be rewarded.

Missus, when will the wedding be?

Are you going to

invite us, too?

You'll look pretty as a bride.

- Isn't she elegant?

- From her daughter's money.

When will the wedding be?

On May 40th.

Aren't you interested in

what's happened?

What happened?

They insult me continually.

They humiliate me.

Why have you deserted me,

why, my Lord?

Princess...

I would be extremely pleased

if I could promote your cause.

I would be grateful.

I requested Baron Maltitz

to be present

in his official capacity as

the Tstar's envoy in Weimar.

I want to state officially

that I'm willing to divorce you.

Don't be surprised.

Years have passed

since you left Woronince.

Meanwhile, my situation

has changed, too.

Yes, I know.

So, I should like to see

this matter settled.

So would I, believe me.

Consider yourself a free man.

Officially too.

Let us discuss

a few important details.

For instance, our daughter.

Let's discuss the future

of Marie Sayn-Wittgenstein.

Masha's future?

You don't want to take away

my child?

Considering your present position,

I'm afraid society would take it amiss

if our daughter stayed with you.

Further, the child's fortune,

the estate...

Yes, of course, the estate...

I'm ready to discuss everything.

It shall be as you wish.

I only...

I knew you would not raise

any difficulties,

so we had a draught prepared.

We, the undersigned,

Prince Sayn-Wittgenstein

and his wife Carolyne,

have agreed to the following.

Nicky has agreed to the divorce.

I'll go to Rome and press

for a marriage licence.

Isn't that asking too much?

We should be more modest.

No, Franz.

We must obtain pardon

for our grave sin.

What sin?

Yes, for the sin.

Do you think adultery

is a Christian virtue?

A safe conduct

to the other world?

You've never spoken

like this before.

The Holy Father's assent

means pardon for us.

And then, holy matrimony...

For me, this is now the only way.

I'll go to Rome.

My marriage has been

invalidated by the Pope.

Come at once!

We'll be wed

on your 50th birthday.

This is it.

San Carlo al Corso...

They'll be waiting for us

tomorrow morning.

I wanted it to be

on your birthday.

There'll be masses of flowers

in our honour...

Dear Carolyne...

A poor organist.

Very average.

But a lovely melody,

an old Gregorian chant.

Have you never thought that this

might be your true vocation?

Sacred music?

Yes, often.

Modern man's faith

has not yet found expression.

There is much to be done

in this field.

One... two... three...

four... five... six...

Six o'clock.

Another 14 hours

How can I bear it?

What's 14 hours

after so many years?

Cardinal Honelohe.

Do show him in.

Welcome.

Please, take a seat.

All is ready for the wedding.

We thought you would come

in the morning.

The Sayn-Wittgenstein family

has laid convincing proof

before the Holy See

that the Princess was not forced

to marry Prince Nicholas.

The marriage of both parties

was voluntarily created.

His Holiness now has doubts

as to the justness

of his decision.

But he has given his consent!

His Holiness thinks

it is the will of the Lord.

And what do you think? Why has

the Lord changed his will?

In the interest of your salvation.

It is your salvation maybe,

that of the Princess's family

or the wealth and rank

of the Hohenlohes

which is endangered

by a Gipsy musician.

Please Carolyne, try to check

these words

against His Highness's decision...

Mr. Liszt whom we

so greatly honour...

Honour!

Please, Carolyne.

Believe me,

it's better for all.

Living in sin is unworthy of you.

What is worthy of me?

The life of a Christian,

who is above

the vanities of this world.

A Christian life of penance.

We do not mean that

but appeasement,

acquiescence...

Thank you, Father.

Don't touch me, please.

I will beg His Holiness...

No!

God is punishing me

because I violated His laws.

I must do penance for my sins

as long as I live. Forever.

I'll find comfort in religion.

Do not touch me!

You see, the bars!

I was unable

to break them,

though I wanted so much

to get out of my prison.

But it's impossible.

And I shall be a prisoner

forever.

Do not accuse yourself.

Those bars were forged

by the world.

When both of us live

behind bars

maybe our souls

will find peace.

It is very modest, of course.

It suits me.

I hope my playing

won't disturb the brethren.

You are free to play

for most of the day.

Surely, we shall find

much pleasure in it.

Excuse our intruding.

You have distinguished visitors.

We, the Prince of the Church,

visit the Prince of Music.

Holy Father!

We hear you were working

on an ecclesiastical composition.

I have finished

the Legend of St. Elisabeth,

and I'm working on my

Oratorio on our Lord.

We'd like to help you

in your creative work,

but we know Franz Liszt

and the dangers that threaten him.

The dangers which threaten

the artist.

Talent is a treasure

threatened by robbers.

Is Liszt doing his utmost to return

what he owes to God,

safely and enriched,

to the Lender?

I believe so, Holy Father.

His intentions are pure,

no doubt.

I've composed my Grand Mass,

the Legend of St. Elisabeth.

I'm working on my Oratorio.

They and many others

speak in my favour.

Do they not reflect my ideal?

Liszt composed his Orpheus,

Prometheus, Tasso,

Mazeppa, his Dante

and Faust symphonies, too.

And they, too, reflect

his ideals.

We do not disapprove

of those excellent works.

It would not be befitting to interfere

with the musicians' disputes.

It is no sin if Man,

God's creature,

chooses paragons of human greatness

as inspiration for his works.

We would only like to remark

that the Grand Mass and Orpheus

speak in the same voice.

Am I expected to be

two people

to speak in two different

languages?

We only object

to the tone of the Mass

being that of Orpheus

instead of being

the very reverse.

Franz Liszt sings

about Christendom,

giving voice, however,

to all worldly ideals.

To what they call

the thoughts of our age.

To the so called

freedom of the people,

which should be rather called

the unhappiness of the people.

The genius of Franz Liszt

is the genius of our sad

and declining century.

For what Liszt lacks

or has been lacking

is the requisite steadfastness.

True? Franz Liszt?

He is believed to be

triumphant and happy.

But we know that he is unhappy.

As if he were standing

outside his own life

not living it, just looking at it,

dreaming about it,

with detachment,

somewhat critically,

somewhat bitterly,

somewhat mincingly...

That is why,

in the midst of ovations,

he always remains

aloof and lonely.

Remember that it is not

the Austrian Emperor

but the King of Hungary

who will be crowned.

Both are impersonated

by Francis Joseph I.

As Austrian Emperor he ruled

Hungary from Vienna.

This is just what has changed.

Even if you don't realize it,

He'll be King of independent

Hungary with Buda as his seat.

So the court of Vienna

has no say in this matter.

It's a Hungarian affair.

And the people want

Liszt's Coronation Mass,

otherwise there will be

gaps in their rows.

He wrote the mass at the request

of the Hungarian prince primate.

All right, dear Baron, but...

let Mr. Preyer conduct

Mr. Liszt's work.

Compromise, eternal compromise...

Your invitation card, sir.

Sorry, I haven't got one.

I only want to hear

my Coronation Mass.

Sorry, I can't allow you further.

I see.

So the Hungarian musician

won't hear the work

he has composed

for the crowning of the King.

All right, sir.

Turn back.

Stop.

Maestro, pardon me.

I'm a Hungarian

and much ashamed of myself.

With your permission,

I'll accompany you.

Sorry, not that way.

Well, thank you.

Long live the King!

Long live the King!

Long live Ferenc Liszt!

Where's the King?

I want to see him.

- Is that the King over there?

- Yes, dear, he is the King.

May I ask who was just

playing the piano?

My lodger, sir.

That old priest is her teacher.

You come from abroad,

don't you?

Where can I find

the old priest?

Wait, please. Vera!

I'm here.

Excuse me...

I'm Alexander Borodin

from St. Petersburg.

And I'm Vera Timanova

from Moscow.

And Franz Liszt's pupil

here in Weimar.

- You are looking for him,

aren't you? - Yes, yes.

Come, I'll show you the way.

Thank you very much.

Sit down, please.

You are a chemist?

Can a brain hold

two sciences so unlike?

When... where did you find

your technique?

I mean, as a composer?

In one of the German

conservatories?

I never finished my studies

at the conservatory.

Luckily, dear friend,

I, too, was kicked out

of the Paris conservatory.

Do you know the German

conservatories?

Today's German music?

They go on and on

composing.

If music were water,

it would flood Mount Ararat.

Noah's pigeon

could not alight on it.

What would I give

for a singe new thought!

And you bring along masses

of new thoughts from the East.

I come from the East, too,

I'm Hungarian.

Your talent is unique.

Work as your genius

dictates you.

Thank you.

But aren't you overrating

my music?

Certainly not.

I'm not complimenting you.

I'd never call bad music good.

But this is excellent!

I'm not talking about the results,

but about the course you've taken.

Your little circle

of four or five friends.

The Group of the Strong.

A good name,

full of confidence.

You're approaching

the crystal clear spring again.

You mean folk music?

The riches

and the virginal purity

that are latent

in all folk music.

Your greatest merit is

in having realized this.

If only you would visit us again.

But I think not.

I'm old and tired.

But you should come to see me.

Send your works,

come in person.

I'm linked to your town

by so many memories.

And by what memories!

Miss Olga Janina,

from the Ukraine.

Olga?

Not Oleg?

So you are the "Monsieur"

who was writing to me?

I'm Claudia Venturi.

Quiet good. Bach.

Though there are parts

I'd play differently.

Why are you looking at me?

Are you comparing me

to my old picture?

Yes. You're more fascinating now.

Well, if it's music

you are interested in,

come next Tuesday.

Where do all these parcels

come from?

Composers send them in the hope

the Maestro will play them.

Or study them.

Let's stop, dear.

You are absent minded.

You've never played

so badly before.

You are troubled, I think,

by the dissonances

of springtide.

I can't go home,

drenched as I am.

Come in.

You'll find dry things

in there, go and change.

I have loved you

for long years.

I love you madly,

mortally, hopelessly.

All I want

is for you to love me.

For you to take me

in your arms,

so that I can feel

what blissful love is like.

You shouldn't have come.

Why do you expose me

to repentance and shame?

You will have nothing

to repent.

In what state of mind

should I wake up then?

Try and see.

God didn't think

about old age,

but he gave us harmony

as a solace,

in which there is also wisdom,

not only love.

My wild, distant country.

I deserted you.

Will you take your prodigal,

restless son?

For there is nothing left for me,

only you.

And no fidelity

except my fidelity to you.

And I'll fulfil my task

as I once promised you

in those happy,

ecstatic days.

My wild, distant country.

Will you give me a haven

where I can find myself at last?

Mr. Trefort,

the Minister of Education.

Show his Excellency in.

Forgive this unexpected visit.

It's a pleasure and an honour.

Please, take a seat.

This is a formal visit

to the President of the new

Academy of Music.

At last!

The baby was born,

if a little late.

But we must not

rake up the past.

Our Academy is headed

by the world's leading musician.

His Majesty sent me to inform you

about your nomination.

Oh, I wish I were younger,

to be able to help

with the new task.

So you do accept

the nomination?

Yes, Your Excellency.

My beloved Pest-Buda

has taken wing at last.

She has a National Theatre,

and an Academy of Music...

But my future pupils

shall not pay!

I have never taught for money,

nor shall I now.

I'll divide me time.

Pest, Weimar, Rome...

Franz Liszt...

Show him in.

Franz! What brings you here?

I don't know.

Here I am.

Please, sit down.

You are embarrassed.

No wonder.

I have aged,

and grown ugly.

This secluded life

does not suit you.

Why don't you open your

house to the world?

To the best society

of Rome?

I'm afraid, dear friend,

our points of view differ more

than they used to.

You showed me the road

leading to the world

of new, modern music.

And now, when this music...

And now, this music

has degenerated, too.

Like everything

in this wretched century.

I've always felt

it was my century.

Yours...

Don't you realize

you do not exist anymore?

That you exist for the sake

of others only?

Wagner, Cornelius, Berlioz,

and your other 'geniuses'

You said, I had opened

the gate for you.

May I ask, then,

where your place will be

in the history of music?

Liszt, the uncle of modern music

who leaves his wealth to others,

who use it against him,

like Mr. Wagner did.

And in alliance,

with your own daughter, too.

Please, please...

You came to see me,

my friend.

I didn't ask you here.

You are right.

I have come to see you,

and not for the last time,

I think.

Yes, I hope to see you again.

The trouble is

that you will see me.

Fate at least should

have spared me

from growing old

in this evil, hideous way.

The seconds may be

evil and hideous,

the years are pure

and wonderful.

Good-bye, Carolyne.

Come again, Franz.

If fate permits,

we'll meet again.

Good-bye.

You didn't come to meet me.

Why did you visit

all your friends in Europe,

while we were having

Wagner celebrations here?

My friends... who knows

if I shall see them again?

Come now, Father,

You've never liked Bayreuth,

not even in poor Richard's lifetime.

Don't try to find excuses, Cosima.

I do not expect

filial affection from you.

How could you?

As a child,

I was distant from you.

In later years,

you were cross with me.

You are right.

Domestic happiness

has been denied to me.

I wanted you to have

more of it.

I thought you'd find it

with B?low,

rather than in the cold pomp

of Wahnfried,

at the side

of a much older man.

You were friends with Richard

until...

Say it, Cosima, go on,

you are my daughter.

Wagner outshone me

and I am jealous.

No, I wouldn't say

you were jealous, but...

But... But?

You are ill, Father.

You should go to bed.

Come, I'll take you

to your lodgings.

To my lodgings?

Am I not to stay with you?

With a kind old lady

near here.

This would be too noisy for you.

Too many guests.

As you wish, my child.

Mishka, we're going.

Mishka, what's happening?

People are coming

out of the theatre.

But I should have been there!

Tomorrow, your honour.

No! My daughter wanted me to...

She knows that

you are unwell.

Does Richard know, too?

But Mr. Wagner...

more than 3 years ago...

Richard? 3 years ago?

They are applauding.

No, they are coming

out of the theatre.

Oh, why are they

leaving us alone?

Quick! A doctor!

They're applauding.

Mr. Colonne should be told that...

No, don't. Better not...

I'll go and bow

as is befitting.

Heavens! You mustn't!

Help!

The restlessness of Faustian man

chased him across the world,

to find abode

in a distant dream town,

and repose

in humaneness to come.

Out of the disquiet quiet

of his grave,

the Faustian struggle of the future

will sprout

and drive on his disciples

as well,

until the time

of humanity's happiness.

This is the work

of Ferenc Liszt.

Let the Faust symphony resound.