Even if he only has one representative work in his life, with just this one piece, Sir Arthur Hastings is sufficient to rank as one of the pinnacle figures in opera art. This is not just a world-class work that spans Eastern and Western cultures, but more importantly, its birth saved a pair of ill-fated lovers and restored the life of a great musician to the world.
——Heinrich Heine
"Oh, right, the concert, I almost forgot the serious business!"
Liszt, whose face was shining brightly from drinking, took a large gulp of beer and laughed heartily, saying: "If I don't get this matter done properly, when I return to Leipzig, my dear little Eliza will definitely scold her old father again."
At this, Liszt scratched his bald head, pondered for a while, and finally cast his eyes onto Mendelssohn beside him: "Sorry, Mr. Mendelssohn, which opera was Eliza planning to use for her debut performance?"
