Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
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Franz Liszt was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer of the Romantic period of German descent. He was a renowned performer throughout Europe during the 19th century, noted especially for his showmanship and great skill with the piano. Today, he is considered to be one of the greatest pianists in history, despite the fact that no recordings of his playing exist. Liszt is frequently credited with re-defining piano playing itself, and his influence is still visible today, both through his compositions and his legacy as a teacher. He also contributed greatly towards the Romantic idiom in general, and he is credited with the creation of the symphonic poem.
Liszt studied and played at Vienna and Paris and for most of his early adulthood toured throughout Europe giving concerts. He is credited with the innovation of the modern piano recital, in which his virtuosity won him approval by composers and performers alike. His great generosity with both time and money benefited many people: victims of disasters, orphans, and the many students he taught for free. He also contributed to the Beethoven memorial fund.
Many of his piano compositions have entered the standard repertoire, including the Hungarian Rhapsodies, Transcendental Etudes (Études d'exécution transcendante), Années de Pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage), the Piano Sonata in B minor, and two piano concertos. He also made many piano transcriptions of operas, famous symphonies, Paganini Caprices (some of the most demanding works of the violin repertoire in his day), and Schubert lieder. Many of his piano compositions are among the most technically challenging in the repertoire. Liszt was himself a composer of lieder and choral music, of symphonic poems and other orchestral works. His compositions for organ are lauded and well-established in the organ repertoire.
There are several portraits of Liszt known to exist, however, they cannot be authenticated. Many of them are unsigned, which makes it very difficult (though not impossible) to decipher which artist painted the portrait. There are three post mortem portraits to be noted. Leo Eicchorn, Franz Rumpf, and Hermann Torggler all painted portraits of Liszt after his death. How many more will reappear in the years to come? The numbers are unknown.
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