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Why did Franz Liszt resign from his position in Weimar?
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Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt, oil on canvas by Henri Lehmann, 1840; in the Carnavalet Museum, Paris.
Franz Liszt resigned from his position in Weimar in 1858 due to a combination of mounting professional and personal pressures.1
The environment in Weimar had become increasingly difficult for several reasons:
- Lack of Support: The grand duke who had originally appointed Liszt died in 1853, and his successor showed little interest in music.1
- Social and Political Friction: Lisztâs support for Richard Wagner and his association with the New German school of modernism alienated academic musicians and members of the court.1
- Personal Scandal: The citizens of Weimar strongly objected to Liszt living openly with Princess Carolyne Sayn-Wittgenstein, who was unable to secure a divorce. This led to significant pressure on the grand duchess to exclude the princess from court functions.1
Following his resignation, Liszt remained in Weimar for several more years, though his situation continued to deteriorate until he eventually left for Rome in 1861.1