Franz Liszt

Date of Birth: October 22, 1811 – Raiding, Hungary

Date of Death: July 31, 1886 – Bayreuth, Germany

Quick facts about Franz Liszt:

• He is known as one of the greatest pianists in history. His advanced technical skill broke all known laws of the keyboard.

• He was trilingual in German, French, and Italian, and traveled around all of Europe for most of his life

• He was the inventor of the modern piano recital, and the first person to play with the piano’s sound board facing the audience

• He was a generous philanthropist, and also greatly helped bring attention to then-unknown composers such as Franz Schubert.

Liszt’s parents were Adam and Marie Liszt, descendants of German immigrants who went to Vienna in the 18th century. His father was a cello player and amateur piano player.

Liszt started learning piano when he was 7 years old, taught by his father. His skill improved quickly, even though his hands were sometimes too small to play properly. When this happened, he’d thrust his head down and play the missing note with his nose!

He was noticed by the local Prince, who financed his studies in Vienna with Czerny. Liszt also studied in Paris.

Liszt moved to Paris with his mother, and gave piano lessons to support himself and his mother. His life was gloomy at this point, since he worked long hours and had stressful living conditions.

He entered a period of depression for two years, but recovered. He was hugely embarrassed about not having had a normal and proper education, so he dug his nose in books. This paid off, as eventually he became quite erudite. Being well-read also had benefits for his future career, since he was to meet with the greatest aristocrats and intellectuals of his time.

But he didn’t know it yet…

A defining moment in Liszt’s life came in 1832. He saw the famous violin virtuoso Paganini perform, and afterwards resolved to become the greatest piano virtuoso of the day. He began practicing piano for 10-12 hours a day, mastering all of the most difficult playing techniques.

He toured all over Europe in the late 1830s and 1840s, dazzling, astounding, and shocking audiences with his electrifying and masterful performances. Princes and emperors showered him with gifts and praise, and he met all of the most powerful people in Europe. He stopped touring in 1847, after meeting Princess Wittgenstein. She convinced him to focus on composing.

Liszt settled in Weimar for the next 14 years. He held the position of Kapellmeister Extraordinaire there, and was extremely active in the city’s musical life. He also found his more relaxed life a great aid to composition: during the 1850s he wrote his greatest piano and orchestral music.

After his two children died at the beginning of 1860, Liszt became extremely religious. He took minor Roman Catholic orders, and became known as the Abbé Liszt.

During the last years of his life, Liszt lived a triple existence. He traveled regularly between Rome, Weimar and Budapest, giving free lessons and masterclasses. He died of pneumonia at the age of 74.

Important Works by Liszt:

Piano Works:
-Sonata in B Minor – 1853
-Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 – 1853
-Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 – 1853
-Mephisto Waltz No. 1 – 1852
-Transcendental Etudes – 1852
-Nuages Gris – 1881

Orchestral Works
-Hungaria – 1854
-Faust Symphony -1857