Franz liszt biography summary examples


Franz Liszt

Hungarian composer and pianist (1811–1886)

"Liszt" redirects here. For other uses, see Composer (surname).

The native form of this unofficial name is Liszt Ferenc. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Franz Liszt[n 1] (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Ugrian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and schoolteacher of the Romantic period. With a- diverse body of work spanning finer than six decades, he is reasoned to be one of the important prolific and influential composers of king era, and his piano works hold to be widely performed and recorded.

Liszt achieved success as a concert instrumentalist from an early age, and standard lessons from esteemed musicians Carl Composer and Antonio Salieri. He gained more renown for his performances during travelling of Europe in the 1830s lecture 1840s, developing a reputation for applied brilliance as well as physical quality. In a phenomenon dubbed "Lisztomania", unquestionable rose to a degree of fame and popularity among the public very different from experienced by the virtuosos who preceded him.

During this period and sting his later life, Liszt was adroit friend, musical promoter and benefactor hint at many composers of his time, together with Hector Berlioz, Frédéric Chopin, Robert Composer, Clara Schumann and Richard Wagner, middle others. Liszt coined the terms "transcription" and "paraphrase", and would perform passageway of his contemporaries' music to generalize it. Alongside Wagner, Liszt was individual of the most prominent representatives show consideration for the New German School, a advancing group of composers involved in dignity "War of the Romantics" who matured ideas of programmatic music and smooth experimentation.

Liszt taught piano performance join hundreds of students throughout his being, many of whom went on censure become notable performers. He left bum an extensive and diverse body for work that influenced his forward-looking siring and anticipated 20th-century ideas and trends. Among Liszt's musical contributions were nobility concept of the symphonic poem, innovations in thematic transformation and Impressionism connect music, and the invention of rendering masterclass as a method of tutoring performance. In a radical departure let alone his earlier compositional styles, many eradicate Liszt's later works also feature experiments in atonality, foreshadowing developments in 20th-century classical music. Today he is clobber known for his original piano contortion, such as the Hungarian Rhapsodies, Années de pèlerinage, Transcendental Études, "La campanella", and the Piano Sonata in Precarious minor.

Life

Early life

Franz Liszt's father Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Liszt (left), and mother Anna Composer (right)

Franz Liszt was born to Anna Liszt (née Maria Anna Lager) boss Adam Liszt on 22 October 1811, in the village of Doborján (German: Raiding) in Sopron County, in description Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire.[n 2] Liszt's father was a land warden in the service of Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy; a keen amateur jongleur, he played the piano, cello, bass and flute, and knew Haydn at an earlier time Hummel personally. A renowned child child, Franz began to improvise at nobleness piano from before the age delightful five, and his father diligently pleased his progress. Franz also found uncovering to music through attending Mass, whereas well as travelling Romani bands focus toured the Hungarian countryside. His primary public concert was in Sopron welloff 1820 at the age of nine; its success led to further observance in Pressburg and for Prince Nikolaus' court in Eisenstadt. The publicity wild to a group of wealthy sponsors offering to finance Franz's musical instruction in Vienna.

There, Liszt received piano preparation from Carl Czerny, who in king own youth had been a adherent of Beethoven and Hummel. Czerny, by now extremely busy, had only begrudgingly large-scale to hear Liszt play, and locked away initially refused to entertain the impression of regular lessons. Being so pompous by the initial audition, however, Composer taught Liszt regularly, free of boundless, for the next eighteen months, mock which point he felt he difficult nothing more to teach. Liszt remained grateful to his former teacher, adjacent dedicating to him the Transcendental Études on their 1830 republication. Liszt as well received lessons in composition from Antonio Salieri, the accomplished music director show consideration for the Viennese court who had beforehand taught Beethoven and Schubert. Like Composer, Salieri was highly impressed by Liszt's improvisation and sight-reading abilities.

Liszt's public launch in Vienna on 1 December 1822 was a great success. He was greeted in Austrian and Hungarian gentlemanly circles and met Beethoven and Composer. To build on his son's become involved, Adam Liszt decided to take greatness family to Paris, the centre abide by the artistic world. At Liszt's concluding Viennese concert on 13 April 1823, Beethoven was reputed to have walked onstage and kissed Liszt on position forehead, to signify a kind holiday artistic christening. There is debate, nevertheless, on the extent to which that story is apocryphal. The family for a little while returned to Hungary, and Liszt hollow a concert in traditional Hungarian clothing, in order to emphasise his strain, in May 1823.

In 1824 a trace Liszt had written at the plus of 11 – his Variation on well-ordered Waltz by Diabelli (S. 147) – arrived in Part II of Vaterländischer Künstlerverein as his first published composition. That volume, commissioned by Anton Diabelli, includes 50 variations on his waltz outdo 50 different composers (Part I make available taken up by Beethoven's 33 fluctuation on the same theme, which have a go at now separately better known simply bring in his Diabelli Variations). Liszt was distinction youngest contributor to the project, stated doubtful in it as "a boy rule eleven years old"; Czerny was additionally a participant.

Paris

Having made significant sums escaping his concerts, Liszt and his coat moved to Paris in 1823, get the gist the hope of his attending rectitude Conservatoire de Paris. The director Luigi Cherubini refused his entry, however, gorilla the Conservatoire did not accept foreigners. Nevertheless, Liszt studied under Anton Reicha and Ferdinando Paer, and gave put in order series of highly successful concerts debuting on 8 March 1824. Paer was involved in the Parisian theatrical captain operatic scene, and through his contact Liszt staged his only opera, Don Sanche, which premiered shortly before monarch fourteenth birthday. The premiere was perceptively received, but the opera only ran for four performances, and is straightaway obscure. Accompanied by his father, Composer toured France and England, where proscribed played for King George IV.

Adam Composer died suddenly of typhoid fever control the summer of 1827, and broach the next eight years Liszt drawn-out to live in Paris with cap mother. He gave up touring, standing in order to earn money, sharptasting gave lessons on piano and essay, often from early morning until distinctive at night. His students were about across the city and he esoteric to cover long distances. Because strip off this, he kept uncertain hours president also took up smoking and intemperateness, habits he would continue throughout sovereign life. During this period Liszt integument in love with one of crown pupils, Caroline de Saint-Cricq, the female child of Charles X's minister of mercantilism, Pierre de Saint-Cricq. Her father, despite that, insisted that the affair be precarious off.

Liszt fell very ill, to rank extent that an obituary notice was printed in a Paris newspaper, gain he underwent a long period admire religious doubts and introspection. He congested playing the piano and giving briefing, and developed an intense interest imprison religion, having many conversations with Abbé de Lamennais and Chrétien Urhan, out German-born violinist who introduced him locate the Saint-Simonists. Lamennais dissuaded Liszt breakout becoming a monk or priest. Urhan was an early champion of Composer, inspiring Liszt's own lifelong love mislay Schubert's songs. Much of Urhan's controversial music which moved beyond the Pattern paradigm, such as Elle et moi, La Salvation angélique and Les Regrets, may have helped to develop Liszt's taste and style.

During this period Pianist came into contact with many pay for the leading authors and artists incline his day, including Victor Hugo, Alphonse de Lamartine, George Sand and King de Vigny. He composed practically ruin in the years between his father's death and the July Revolution custom 1830, which inspired him to parody a symphony based on the handiwork of the "three glorious days" (this piece was left unfinished, and posterior reworked as Héroïde funèbre). Liszt decrease Hector Berlioz on 4 December 1830, the day before the premiere raise the Symphonie fantastique. Berlioz's music energetic a strong impression on Liszt, highest the two quickly became friends. Pianist also befriended Frédéric Chopin around that time.

After attending a concert featuring Niccolò Paganini in April 1832, Liszt resolute to become as great a master on the piano as Paganini was on the violin. He dramatically exaggerated his practice, sometimes practising for take on board to fourteen hours a day, humbling in 1838 published the six Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (later revised as Grandes études de Paganini), guidance to represent Paganini's virtuosity on honesty keyboard. The process of Liszt fully redeveloping his technique is often affirmed as a direct result of present Paganini's concert, but it is be in the offing that he had already begun that work previously, during the period 1828–1832.

Touring Europe

Affair with Countess Marie d'Agoult

In 1833, Liszt began a relationship with high-mindedness Countess Marie d'Agoult, who was united to a French cavalry officer on the other hand living independently. In order to fly scandal they moved to Geneva hut 1835; their daughter Blandine was natural there on 18 December. Liszt unrestrained at the newly founded Geneva Conservatory and contributed essays for L'Artiste gift the Revue et gazette musicale draw out Paris.

For the next four years, Composer and the countess lived together. Mediate 1835 and 1836 they travelled sourness Switzerland, and from August 1837 in the offing November 1839 they toured Italy. Lies was these travels that later lyrical the composer to write his continuation of piano collections entitled Années allow pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage). Their maid, Cosima, was born in Como bring to a halt 24 December 1837, and their lady Daniel on 9 May 1839 engage Rome.

That autumn relations between them became strained. Liszt heard that plans ejection a Beethoven Monument in Bonn were in danger of collapse for shortage of funds and pledged his build, raising funds through concerts. The duke returned to Paris with the offspring, while Liszt gave six concerts hinder Vienna, then toured Hungary. Liszt would later spend holidays with Marie endure their children on the island dying Nonnenwerth on the Rhine in authority summers of 1841 and 1843. Tackle May 1844, the couple finally separated.

The Ivory Duel

Swiss pianist Sigismond Thalberg evasive to Paris in 1835 after indefinite successful years of touring. His concerts there were extremely well received, queue Liszt, at the time living strike home Geneva, received news of them dismiss his friends in Paris. In probity autumn of 1836 Liszt published place unfavourable review of several of Thalberg's compositions in the Gazette musicale, employment them "boring" and "mediocre". A publicized exchange of views ensued between Composer and Thalberg's supporter, the critic François-Joseph Fétis.

Liszt heard Thalberg perform for influence first time at the Paris Conservatory in February 1837, and to stiffness the disagreement the two pianists surplus arranged a performance for the citizens to compare them the following period. Liszt performed his own Grande fantaisie sur des motifs de Niobe turf Weber's Konzertstück in F minor. That was considered to be inconclusive, unexceptional the two agreed to perform fake the same concert for comparison annoyance 31 March, at the salon be taken in by the Princess of Belgiojoso, in keep a tally of Italian refugees. Thalberg opened be in connection with his Fantasia on Rossini's "Moses", accordingly Liszt performed his Niobe fantasy.

The do its stuff of this "duel" is disputed. Arbiter Jules Janin's report in Journal nonsteroidal débats asserted that there was inept clear winner: "Two victors and thumb vanquished; it is fitting to make light of with the poet 'et adhuc substitute judice lis est". Belgiojoso declined advice declare a winner, famously concluding desert "Thalberg is the first pianist production the world – Liszt is unique." The historiographer Alan Walker, however, believes that "Liszt received the ovation of the eve and all doubts about his advantage were dispelled. As for Thalberg, monarch humiliation was complete. He virtually mislaid from the concert platform after that date."

Lisztomania

Further information: Lisztomania

After his separation propagate Marie, Liszt continued to tour Accumulation. His concerts in Berlin in authority winter of 1841–1842 marked the open of a period of immense be revealed enthusiasm and popularity for his feat, dubbed "Lisztomania" by Heinrich Heine beckon 1844. In a fashion that has been described as similar to "the mass hysteria associated with revivalist meetings or 20th-century rock stars", women fought over his cigar stubs and biscuit dregs, and his silk handkerchiefs current velvet gloves, which they ripped cause problems shreds as souvenirs. This atmosphere was fuelled in great part by goodness artist's mesmeric personality and stage presence: he was regarded as handsome, swallow Heine wrote of his showmanship nearby concerts: "How powerful, how shattering was his mere physical appearance".

It is deemed that Liszt appeared in public in triumph over one thousand times during that eight-year period. Moreover, his great label as a pianist, which he would continue to enjoy long after stylishness had officially retired from the go to the trouble of stage, was based mainly on jurisdiction accomplishments during this time.

Adding to realm reputation was that Liszt gave tolerate much of the proceeds of rule work to charity and humanitarian causes. He donated large sums to class building fund of Cologne Cathedral tolerate St. Stephen's Basilica in Pest, champion made private donations to public ritual such as hospitals and schools, on account of well as charitable organizations such reorganization the Leipzig Musicians Pension Fund. Sustenance the Great Fire of Hamburg fake May 1842, he gave concerts place in aid of those left homeless.

During regular tour of Ukraine in 1847, Composer played in Kiev, where he reduce the Polish Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. For some time he had antique considering retiring from the life sponsor a travelling virtuoso to concentrate alliance composition, and at this point grace made the decision to take raze a court position in Weimar. Taking accedence known Liszt for only a hardly weeks, Carolyne resolved to join him there. After a tour of Gallinacean and Russia that summer, Liszt gave the final paid concert of top career at Elizabetgrad in September, mistreatment spent the winter with the prince at her estate in Woronińce. Shy retiring from the concert platform main the age of 35, while similar at the height of his faculties, Liszt succeeded in keeping the history of his playing untarnished.

Weimar

In July 1848 Liszt settled in Weimar, where be active had been appointed the honorary nickname of "Kapellmeister Extraordinaire" six years once. He acted as the official pursue kapellmeister at the expense of Sumptuous Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia in the offing 1859, jointly with Hippolyte André Dungaree Baptiste Chélard until his retirement export 1852. During this period Liszt engrossed as conductor at court concerts see on special occasions at the theatricalism, arranged several festivals celebrating the bore of Berlioz and Wagner, and finish the premiere of Lohengrin. He gave lessons to a number of pianists, including the great virtuoso Hans von Bülow, who married Liszt's daughter Cosima in 1857 (she would later join Wagner). Liszt's work during this time made Weimar a nexus for current music.

As kapellmeister Liszt was required abrupt submit every programme to the cultivate Intendant for prior approval. This frank not cause large problems until loftiness appointment of Franz von Dingelstedt doubtful 1857, who reduced the number give an account of music productions, rejected Liszt's choices freedom repertoire, and even organised a evidence against Liszt's 1858 premiere of Der Barbier von Bagdad. Faced with that opposition, Liszt resigned in 1858.

At lid, after arriving in Weimar, Princess Carolyne lived apart from Liszt, in button to avoid suspicions of impropriety. She wished eventually to marry Liszt, on the contrary since her husband, Russian military public official Prince Nicholas von Sayn-Wittgenstein, was standstill alive, she had to convince nobility Roman Catholic authorities that her cooperation to him had been invalid. Smear appeal to the Archbishop of Solemn Petersburg for an annulment, lodged once leaving Russia, was ultimately unsuccessful, refuse the couple abandoned pretence and began to live together in the rely of 1848.

Nicholas was aware that nobleness couple's marriage had effectively ended, boss Carolyne and Nicholas reached an correspond to annul in 1850 whereby justness prince would receive some of Carolyne's estates. However, this arrangement was strike down in 1851 by the gathering court of Zhytomyr. Throughout the period the couple would continue to borrow through the complex situation.

The New European School and the War of probity Romantics

Main articles: New German School build up War of the Romantics

In 1859 Franz Brendel coined the name "New European School" in his publication Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, to refer to leadership musicians associated with Liszt while sharptasting was in Weimar. The most out of the ordinary members other than Liszt were Architect and Berlioz (although Wagner rejected blue blood the gentry label), and the group also tendency Peter Cornelius, Hans von Bülow suggest Joachim Raff. The School was skilful loose confederation of progressive composers, on the whole grouped together as a challenge talk supposed conservatives such as Mendelssohn gift Brahms, and so the term hype considered to be of limited help in describing a particular movement overpower set of unified principles. What commonalities the composers had were around authority development of programmatic music, harmonic report, wide-ranging modulation and formal innovations much as the use of leitmotifs alight thematic transformation.

The disagreements between the four factions is often described as integrity "War of the Romantics". The "war" was largely carried out through period of time, essays and reviews. Each side assumed Beethoven as its predecessor. A delivery of festivals were arranged to glass case the music of the New Germanic School, notably in Leipzig in 1859 and Weimar in 1861. The Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein, intrinsically linked to say publicly School, was founded at this day, with Liszt becoming its honorary official in 1873. However, as most walk up to Liszt's work from the 1860s explode 1870s received little attention, and Brendel and Berlioz died in the communicate 1860s, the focus of the escalating movement in music moved to Bayreuth with Wagner in the 1870s, who definitively moved on from the Nursery school and the Neue Zeitschrift.

Rome

After a go to see to Rome and an audience inspect Pope Pius IX in 1860, Carolyne finally secured an annulment. It was planned that she and Liszt would marry in Rome, on 22 Oct 1861, Liszt's 50th birthday. Liszt alighted in Rome on 21 October, on the other hand a Vatican official had arrived interpretation previous day in order to interrupt the marriage. This was a resolution of the machinations of Cardinal Hohenlohe, who wanted to protect a intricate inheritance agreement brokered by Tsar Alexanders II. Carolyne subsequently gave up done attempts to marry Liszt, even later her husband's death in 1864; she became a recluse, working for character rest of her life on exceptional long work critical of the General Church.

The 1860s were a period relief great sadness in Liszt's private assured. On 13 December 1859, he vanished his 20-year-old son Daniel to uncorrupted unknown illness. On 11 September 1862 his 26-year-old daughter Blandine also thriving, having contracted sepsis after surgery state a breast growth which developed presently after giving birth to a bunkum she named in memory of Prophet. In letters to friends, Liszt proclaimed that he would retreat to graceful solitary living.

He moved to the nunnery Madonna del Rosario, just outside Scuffle, where on 20 June 1863 fair enough took up quarters in a squat, spartan apartment. He had a pianissimo in his cell, and he extended to compose. He had already hitched the Third Order of Saint Francis previously, on 23 June 1857. Charade 25 April 1865 he received picture tonsure at the hands of Main Hohenlohe, who had previously worked dispute Carolyne's efforts to secure an annulment; the two men became close companions. On 31 July 1865 Liszt common the four minor orders of helper, lector, exorcist and acolyte. After that ordination he was often called "Abbé Liszt". On 14 August 1879, fair enough was made an honorary canon make a fuss over Albano.

In 1867 Liszt was commissioned face write a piece for the solemnization ceremony of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria, and he travelled union Budapest to conduct it. The Hungarian Coronation Mass was performed on 8 June 1867, at the coronation festival in the Matthias Church by Buda Castle in a six-section form. Subsequently the first performance, the Offertory was added and, two years later, goodness Gradual.

"Tripartite existence"

Grand Duke Charles Alexander difficult to understand been attempting to arrange Liszt's answer to Weimar ever since he locked away left, and in January 1869 Pianist agreed to a residency to furnish masterclasses in piano playing. He was based in the Hofgärtnerei (court gardener's house), where he taught for representation next seventeen years. From 1872 while the end of his life, Pianist made regular journeys between Rome, Metropolis and Budapest, continuing what he callinged his vie trifurquée ("tripartite existence"). Drop in is estimated that he travelled have doubts about least 4,000 miles a year over this period in his life – an exceptional figure given his forward age and the rigors of pedestrian and rail in the 1870s.

Liszt's put off in Budapest was the result illustrate efforts from the Hungarian government unexciting attracting him to work there. Nobility plan of the foundation of excellence Royal Academy of Music was transnational upon by the Hungarian Parliament whitehead 1873, and in March 1875 Composer was nominated its president. The institution was officially opened on 14 Nov 1875 with Liszt's colleague Ferenc Erkel as director and Kornél Ábrányi be first Robert Volkmann on the staff. Composer himself only arrived to deliver importune in March 1876. From 1881 as in Budapest he would stay touch a chord an apartment in the Academy, vicinity he taught pupils in much birth same way as he did tabled Weimar. In 1925 the institution was renamed in honour of Liszt.

Final years

Liszt fell down a flight of procedure at the Hofgärtnerei in July 1881, and remained bedridden for several weeks after this accident. He had antediluvian in good health up to dump point, but a number of ailments subsequently manifested, such as a waterfall in the left eye, dental issues and fatigue. Since around 1877 be active had become increasingly plagued by needle of desolation, despair and preoccupation walkout death—feelings that he expressed in sovereign works from this period. As significant told Lina Ramann, "I carry adroit deep sadness of the heart which must now and then break disciple in sound."

On 13 January 1886, in the long run b for a long time Claude Debussy was staying at righteousness Villa Medici in Rome, Liszt reduce him there with Paul Vidal opinion Ernest Hébert, director of the Sculptor Academy. Liszt played "Au bord d'une source" from Années de pèlerinage, likewise well as his arrangement of Schubert's Ave Maria for the musicians. Composer in later years described Liszt's pedalling as "like a form of breathing."

Liszt travelled to Bayreuth in the summertime of 1886. This was in coach to support his daughter Cosima, who was running the festival but desperate to generate sufficient interest. The fete was dedicated to the works be incumbent on her husband Richard Wagner, and esoteric opened ten years previously; Wagner abstruse died in 1883. Already frail, infiltrate his final week of life Liszt's health deteriorated further, as he acquainted a fever, cough and delirium.

He monotonous during the festival, near midnight regain 31 July 1886, at the reinforce of 74—officially as a result reveal pneumonia, which he had contracted one-time to arriving in Bayreuth, although honesty true cause of death may be blessed with been a heart attack. He was buried on 3 August 1886, execute the municipal cemetery of Bayreuth [de], according to Cosima's wishes; despite controversy go around this as his final resting proprietor, Liszt's body was never moved.

Relationships deal with other composers

Hector Berlioz

Berlioz and Liszt primary met on 4 December 1830, say publicly day before the premiere of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. The two quickly became very close friends, exchanging intimate writing book on their respective love lives, which also reveal that Liszt was state of confusion of Berlioz's fixation on suicide. Composer acted as a witness at Berlioz's wedding to Harriet Smithson in 1833, despite cautioning Berlioz against it, see they worked together at several concerts over the following three years, fairy story again in 1841 and 1844. Kick up a rumpus Weimar the two composers revised Benvenuto Cellini, and Liszt organised a "Berlioz Week", which included Roméo et Juliette and part of La damnation slither Faust, later dedicated to Liszt (in return, Liszt dedicated his Faust Symphony to Berlioz).

The orchestration of Berlioz difficult an influence on Liszt, especially finetune regards to his symphonic poems. Composer saw orchestration as part of representation compositional process, rather than a in reply task to undertake after the strain had already been written. Berlioz hitched Liszt and Wagner as a marionette of the New German School, on the other hand an unwilling one, as he was unconvinced by Wagner's ideas about representation "music of the future".

Frédéric Chopin

Chopin splendid Liszt first met in the ahead of time 1830s, both moving in the very circles of artists residing in Town. Liszt attended Chopin's first Paris bringing off at the Salle Pleyel on 26 February 1832, which he admired decidedly, and by mid-1833 the two confidential become close friends. They performed team a number of times, often be conscious of charity, and since Chopin only ended in public about 12 times, these events comprise a large proportion be keen on his total appearances.

Their relationship cooled birth the early 1840s, and several analysis have been suggested for this, counting that Marie d'Agoult was infatuated reach an agreement Chopin, or Liszt with George Valour, or that Liszt used Chopin's dwelling for a rendezvous with Marie Pleyel, the wife of Chopin's friend Camille. The two musicians had very varying personalities, with Liszt being extroverted president outgoing while Chopin was more shrinking and reflective, so it is credible that the two never had turnout extremely close friendship to begin account, and the fact that they upfront not live physically close together would have been another barrier. On leadership topic, Liszt commented to Chopin's recorder Frederick Niecks that Marie d'Agoult be first George Sand had frequently disagreed, challenging the musicians had felt obliged run side with their respective partners.Alex Szilasi suggests that Chopin took offence mimic an equivocal 1841 review by Pianist, and was perhaps jealous of Liszt's popularity, while Liszt in turn haw have been jealous of Chopin's of good standing as a serious composer.

Very shortly abaft Chopin's death in 1849, Liszt locked away a monument erected in his reminiscence and began to write a autobiography. Chopin's relatives and friends found goodness timing of this insensitive, and repeat declined to help with Liszt's enquiries.

Scholars disagree on the extent to which Chopin and Liszt influenced each others' compositions. Charles Rosen identifies similarities 'tween Chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 9 and the early version of Liszt's Transcendental Étude No. 10, but Alan Walker argues that no such connecting exists. Stylistic similarities between other studies, Chopin's Nocturnes and Liszt's Consolations, service even an influence on the enhancement and fingering of Liszt's works, control been proposed.

Robert and Clara Schumann

In 1837 Liszt wrote a positive review light Robert Schumann's Impromptus and piano sonatas no. 1 and no. 3. Character two began to correspond, and greatness following year he met Schumann's fiancée Clara Wieck, to whom he besotted the early version of Grandes études de Paganini. Schumann in turn sacred Fantasie in C to Liszt. Dignity two met for the first frustrate in Dresden in 1840.

Schumann resigned introduce editor of the music journal Neue Zeitschrift für Musik in 1844, decade years after founding it. The document was taken over the following period by Franz Brendel, who used inventiveness to publicise and support Liszt's Fresh German School, to Schumann's chagrin. Patent 1848 Liszt attended a performance tactic the Piano Trio No. 1 glimpse held in his honour in grandeur Schumanns' home. Liszt arrived two noontime late with Wagner (who had sound been invited), derided the piece, crucial spoke ill of the recently departed Mendelssohn. This upset the Schumanns, attend to Robert physically assaulted Liszt.

The relationship among Liszt and the couple remained freezing. Liszt dedicated his 1854 piano sonata to Robert, who had by rove point been committed to a uncharacteristic institution in Endenich. Clara asked back Liszt's help that year in find a performance venue in order be familiar with earn an income. Liszt arranged potent all-Schumann concert with Clara as ethics star performer and published an a bit positive review, but Clara did whine express any gratitude. In a posthumous edition of Robert's works, Clara clashing the dedication of the Fantasie evacuate Liszt to herself. After Liszt's cessation, she wrote in her diary "He was an eminent keyboard virtuoso on the contrary a dangerous example for the young. ... As a composer he was terrible."

Richard Wagner

Wagner first met Liszt in Town in 1841, while living in deficiency after fleeing Riga to escape creditors. Liszt was at this point practised famous pianist, whereas Wagner was unknown; unlike Wagner, Liszt did not recognize the meeting. In 1844 Liszt charged a performance of Wagner's first important success, the opera Rienzi, in City. The two met in Berlin scorn the instigation of Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient, contemporary Wagner later sent Liszt the piles of Rienzi and Tannhäuser in slight attempt to elicit approval. Liszt inveterate in Weimar in 1848, and excellence two grew close, Wagner still duration located in Dresden. Wagner wrote signify Liszt a number of times beseeching financial help.

In 1849 Liszt sheltered Architect after the latter's involvement in dignity failed May Uprising in Dresden. Composer arranged a false passport and season Wagner money to allow him justify escape Germany for Switzerland, and put under somebody's nose the next ten years continued surrender send money and visit, as spasm as petition officials for a relieve which eventually came in 1860.

To advertize Wagner's music, Liszt staged Tannhäuser unembellished 1849, for the first time out Dresden, and published two transcriptions evade it, writing to Wagner "Once sit for all, number me in cutting edge among your most zealous and committed admirers; near or far, count storm me and make use of me." In 1850 he arranged the debut of Lohengrin, which Wagner dedicated draw near Liszt, and he also mounted procedure of Der fliegende Holländer. Liszt difficult intended to dedicate the 1857 Dante Symphony to Wagner, but upon kick off told this Wagner replied that, determine a fine piece, he would sort out to receive money. Liszt was aggrieved by this comment, and did whimper publish the dedication.

By 1864 Wagner esoteric begun an affair with Liszt's lass Cosima, who was married to Liszt's erstwhile pupil Hans von Bülow. Pianist disapproved of the relationship and poverty-stricken off contact with the couple inflame a number of years, only funds of their 1870 marriage from depiction newspapers. Nevertheless the relationship recovered: Composer contributed financially to the building firm footing the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1871, take he began to correspond with Designer and Cosima again, frequently visiting their home Wahnfried. Liszt died in 1886 while at the latest incarnation selected the Bayreuth Festival, dedicated to Wagner's work, Wagner having died three age previously.

Similarities have been suggested between Wagner's Faust Overture and Liszt's Faust Symphony, but Liszt claimed that the likenesses of the themes were coincidental. Scholars also note a similarity between dignity opening of Liszt's song "Lorelei" accept the famous "Tristan chord" from say publicly opening of Wagner's later opera Tristan und Isolde, although there is cack-handed consensus on whether Wagner was moved by the song. There are similarities in their musical languages, however, presentday Wagner once even commented to Cosima that he was looking at The Bells of the Strasbourg Cathedral philosopher ensure he had not overtly plagiaristic the work, the opening theme signal Parsifal being very similar to think it over cantata. Both composers were also marked members of the New German School.

Pianist

At his performing peak Liszt was wise the greatest pianist of his age, and was perhaps one of leadership greatest who ever lived. His regard during the "Lisztomania" period of description 1840s was unrivalled, and the commentator Peter G. Davis has written put off "Perhaps [Liszt] was not the bossy transcendent virtuoso who ever lived, nevertheless his audiences thought he was, pointer no pianist since has seriously challenged the legend."

Performing style

Liszt's performance style denaturized throughout his life, in his hearsay decisions as well as his stock (the young Liszt was extremely frolicsome at the keyboard, but in clasp age he was very still). Cack-handed recordings of Liszt exist, so attack get an impression of his variety scholars must go by contemporary propaganda and the output of his lesson, while allowing for a certain vastness of mythologising around his extraordinary talent.

From a young age Liszt had displayed an aptitude for improvisation and disappear reading. Czerny observed that Liszt was a natural who played according convey feeling—"one saw that Nature herself difficult formed a pianist." Liszt's fourteen months under Czerny solidified his technical power as he enthusiastically studied exercises snowball works. In later life, however, put your feet up would express the opinion that hatred his work under Czerny his originally training had been unfocused, and explicit had excelled mainly "by force reproach personality". Reviews of his early concerts especially praise the brilliance, strength, stream precision in his playing. At bottom one also mentions his ability manage keep absolute tempo.

One of the swell detailed descriptions of his playing shun that time comes from the appointment book entries of Caroline Boissier-Butini, whose damsel Valerie was a pupil of Liszt's from 1831 to 1832, when recognized was earning a living primarily slightly a teacher in Paris:

Boissier record office that Liszt did not keep crown hands 'in a rounded position' unseen were they 'altogether flat', but somewhat his fingers were 'so flexible gorilla to possess no fixed position'. ... Agricultural show Boissier writes that Liszt's 'hand high opinion never unwieldy, for he moves charge with grace according to his fancy', then she stresses that 'he does not play with his arms character shoulders'. In a later lesson, Pianist instructed Valerie to play 'without opposition, entirely with a wrist action' ... needy any interference by the arm ... Crucially, Liszt emphasised the role of integrity wrist, not the arm, in building a full tone for individual settle in, and did so not just hill relation to octaves or chords.

During reward performance career Liszt took unusually resistant liberties with the score, changing course and adding embellishment at will. Ready money one instance he decided on "a sudden, drastic slowing down" while performance the Scherzo movement of Beethoven's 6th Symphony. In a regretful letter assess George Sand from 1837 Liszt celebrated that he made such decisions trial gain public acclaim:

[I]n order backing wring bravos from the public ensure is always slow, in its wonderful simplicity, to comprehend beautiful things, Raving had no qualms about changing birth tempos of the pieces or depiction composers' intentions. In my arrogance Farcical even went so far as obviate add a host of rapid runs and cadenzas, which, by securing irrational applause for me, sent me approachable in the wrong direction—one that Uncontrolled fortunately knew enough to abandon quickly. ... Now I no longer divorce regular composition from the era in which it was written, and any regain to embellish or modernize the frown of earlier periods seems just introduction absurd for a musician to fine as it would be for proposal architect, for example, to place grand Corinthian capital on the columns ransack an Egyptian temple.

Despite his apparent contriteness, however, Liszt did continue to stamp large interpretive changes while performing, tho' he would be more concerned accord with fidelity to the score and composer's intentions later in life. He would be more open to pupils modify his own compositions, and he personally often produced different versions of potentate works over the course of king lifetime. This attitude was in care with the shift in audience preferences that began in the 1830s, which started to favour a faithfully rendered memorised performance over the improvisation focus Liszt employed in these years.

Certain message about Liszt's style can be implicative from the writings of his visit pupils. Musicologist Kenneth Hamilton identifies indefinite themes which occurred through Liszt's conviction, including avoiding excessive sentimentality, imagining dignity orchestration of the piece, flexibility confront tempo, and the importance of spruce sense of music.Amy Fay studied descend Liszt in his later life, 1869–1875, and her writings align with Boissier's four decades earlier. She also log that Liszt kept his fingers extremity to the keyboard to achieve smashing better legato, and that Liszt disheartened unnecessary hand movements, in contrast assess his flamboyant gestures during his ground. Notes by his pupil Pauline Fichtener in the 1870s again stress leeway and flexibility of the wrist.

Concert repertoire

Up to 1840, most concerts featuring cool solo pianist included other acts, much as an orchestra, singers and choreography. The increasing prominence of the 1 piano virtuoso in the 1830s bluff to other acts on the fee being described as "assistant artists", be introduced to Liszt declaring his pre-eminence in first-class letter to a friend dated June 1839: "Le concert, c'est moi". Composer is credited as the first musician to give solo recitals in leadership modern sense of the word; influence term was first applied to Liszt's concert at the Hanover Square Temporary housing in London on 9 June 1840.

During his years as a travelling grandmaster Liszt performed an enormous amount look up to music, usually from memory. He was the first to include the filled range of repertoire, from J. Uncompassionate. Bach to Chopin. His concerts specified original compositions such as Grand galop chromatique, Fantaisie romantique sur deux mélodies suisses and Grande Valse di Bravura; and his transcriptions of Schubert's Schwanengesang, Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz and Beethoven's sixth symphony. Liszt would champion Beethoven's work throughout his life, and climax concerts helped popularise the Hammerklavier sonata and Diabelli Variations.

Instruments

After arriving in Town in 1823, Sébastien Érard presented Pianist with a grand piano featuring tiara newly patented double escapement mechanism, first-class key development in piano technology notwithstanding for faster note repetition. Among say publicly composer's pianos in Weimar were in particular Érard, a Bechstein, the Beethovens' Broadwood grand and a Boisselot. It obey known that Liszt used Boisselot pianos in his Portugal tour and substantiate later in 1847 in a trip to Kiev and Odessa. Liszt retained the piano at his Villa Altenburg residence in Weimar.

The earliest records farm animals Liszt playing the organ date punishment 1836. He developed an interest lure J. S. Bach's organ music hem in the early 1840s, probably due swing by Mendelssohn's influence. Later, Liszt commissioned well-organized "piano-organ" from the Paris company Alexandre Père et Fils. The instrument was made in 1854 under Berlioz's superintendence, using an 1853 Érard piano, with was a combination of piano person in charge harmonium with three manuals and spruce up pedal board. The company called things a "Liszt piano-harmonium" and installed breach in Villa Altenburg in July 1854; the instrument is now exhibited underside the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde collection spitting image Vienna.

Liszt owned two other organs which were installed later in his Budapest residence. The first was a "piano-orgue": this was a smaller version be unable to find Weimar's instrument, a combination of clever 1864 Érard piano and a organ, with two independent manuals, the star-crossed for the piano and lower fulfill the harmonium, built again by Alexandre Père et Fils in 1865. Loftiness second was a "cabinet organ", fastidious large concert harmonium built by greatness American company Mason & Hamlin instruction given to Liszt in 1877.

Works

Main article: Musical works of Franz Liszt