Lot 35
Liszt, Franz (1811-1886) Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist. Autograph working manuscript of Liszt's cadenza for the first movement of Beethoven's Third piano Concerto, prepared for Liszt's edition of the work for two pianos (LWV C27), signed and inscribed at the end, "Villa d'Este 17 Sept: 79 / F. Liszt ' an…Hermann Dimmler," 3 pages, large folio (c. 35 x 27cms), 14-stave paper (B & H. No. 2 C.). The cadenza is notated in dark red and black ink, for the piano solo (lmo), on four or five two-stave systems per page, extended into the right-hand margin in eight places, the first bar for two pianos, with autograph fingering and pedalling, and title ("Cadenza, ad libitum"), annotated ("Fortsetzung des Cadenz") and paginated by the composer in orange crayon (17, 18 and 18 Bis, last page blank) and annotated by him at the end in purple ink, "Weiter Pag 19 [deleted: 4 Takte[?]"
Liszt's cadenza for the first movement of this concerto is an original composition and not a transcription of Beethoven's version. He performed Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto frequently during his years as a traveling virtuoso and also made transcriptions of this, as well as the fourth and fifth concertos for two pianos, published by Cotta (Stuttgart, 1879) (see also Searle (Grove 6) no. 657A and Raabe p. 363). Liszt's cadenza is full of harmonic daring, including introducing the second subject in B major and then F major, rather than in D major as in Beethoven's own cadenza. Liszt also made famous piano transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies, including one of the Ninth for two pianos, and was involved in a complete edition of Beethoven's works, published by Holle of Wolfenbüttel in 1857-1861. Liszt met Beethoven as a child and is said to have performed on the piano before the deaf composer. Light toning and foxing; edge chips at top margin affect nothing.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 60,000.
Sotheby's, London, May 17, 2002.
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| Realized $40,800 |
