Franz Liszt
(1811-1886)
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| Liszt on piano |
The central figure of the Romantic movement, Liszt was responsible for introducing the solo “recitals” in the late 1830s. Playing from memory, in his time, was considered dangerously radical.
His early works were showpieces that took piano technique to new heights of difficulty. Particularly in the symphonies of Beethoven and Berlioz, he found ways to transform the piano into a substitute orchestra.
Following his retirement from concert life, he studied composition intensively. He became a true composer, whose harmonic language influence Ravel and Wagner.
Famous for his astonishing pianistic gifts and music, he worked tirelessly to promote his colleagues' work, and to teach subsequent generations of pianists and composers.
Ständchen (Horch! Horch! die Lerch! / Hark! Harl! The lark!)
- originally composed by Schubert, and rearranged by Liszt
- Paganini's Violin Concerto No.2 - III
... rewritten by Liszt for piano:
(L) Watch her fingers and hear the bells!
- consists of 4 shorter movements, which are performed without breaks
Hungarian Rhapsodies
- a set of 19 piano pieces based on Hungarian folk themes
Nos. 10 (L) and 6 (R) are also well-known.
Liebesträume (Dreams of Love)
- a set of 3 solo piano works
- often, the term Liebestraum refers specifically to No.3, the most well-received of the three
(L) Look at his looks!
(R) Do not look at his looks!
Faust Symphony
- aka "A Faust Symphony in three character pictures"- the 3 movements depict the 3 main characters: Faust, Gretchen, and Mephistopheles
- ends with the addition of a tenor soloist and male chorus, for a setting of Goethe’s "Chorus Mysticus."
Mephisto Waltz No.1
- the program for this work comes from Austrian poet Nikolaus Lenau's Faust, which differs from Goethe’s play.
Consolation No.3
- Leezy
Dante Symphony
- aka "A Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy"Symphonic poem
* No. 3 "Les préludes"12 Transcendental Études
Liszt Haus, Weimar
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| Long after retiring from public performance, Liszt would treat listeners to private recitals at his house in Weimar, now a museum devoted to him. |
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