http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au
THETIMEBEETHOVEN
KISSED THE BOY LISZT?
The great pianist treasured Beethoven’s
kiss, but did it occur in public or in private?A
mong the many legends that sprang up around Franz
Liszt was a story that Beethoven attended a concert the
11-year-old wunderkind gave in Vienna’s Redoutensaal.
Allegedly, the 53-year-old composer even
supplied a theme for Liszt to improvise
on. Following the performance,
the older man was supposedly so
moved by Liszt’s playing that he
ascended the platform to give
his enthusiastic benediction,
kissing the pianist on the brow – a
Weihekuss or ‘kiss of consecration’.
The story was repeated during Liszt’s
lifetime and became an important part of
the composer’s mythology – a commemorative
lithograph was even published on the 50th anniversary of the
concert (and has often been provided, dubiously, as proof that
the event occurred). Liszt certainly never denied the kiss took
place, embracing the legend wholeheartedly and pinpointing
the moment as the real beginning of his career.
The kiss also became a symbolic link between Liszt and
Beethoven, a passing of the torch, with Liszt going on to
become one of the most important Beethoven interpreters
of the 19th century. He transcribed each of the nine
symphonies for the piano and donated a significant sum
of money to the construction of the Beethoven Monument
in Bonn. Liszt acquired – and treasured – Beethoven’s
Broadwood piano and even his death mask!
The veracity of the Weihekuss, however, has since come into
question. Beethoven’s secretary Anton Schindler categorically
denied that Beethoven – who hated child prodigies and was
by this time completely deaf – ever attended the concert. The
composer’s famous Conversation books corroborate this,
though there is evidence that Liszt visited Beethoven with his
teacher Czerny in the days leading up to the concert.
In fact, Liszt spoke to his pupil Ilka Horowitz-Barnay in 1875- over half a century later – about his visit to the curmudgeonly
composer. “The great master’s darkly glowing gaze lay
piercingly upon me,” he recalled. “Yet suddenly a gentle smile
passed over his gloomy features, and Beethoven came quite
close to me, stooped down, put his hand on my head and
stroked my hair several times.” Then, after Liszt had played a
movement of the great man’s C Minor Concerto, “Beethoven
caught hold of me with both hands, kissed me on the forehead,
and said gently: ‘Go! You are one of the fortunate ones! For you
will give joy and happiness to many other people!”
“This event in my life has remained my greatest pride,” Liszt
told Horowitz-Barnay. “It was the palladium of my whole career
as an artist. I tell it but very seldom – and only to good friends!”
So, if the legendary Weihekuss did occur, it happened behind
closed doors, and Ludwig, it seems, was not one to kiss and tell.
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