Franz Liszt. The Rockstar of the Romantic Period

Franz Liszt was born on October 22, 1811 in Raiding, then part of Hungary and today in eastern Austria. His father, Adam Liszt, was a clerk at the court of Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy and an amateur musician who gave Franz piano lessons. Prince Nikolaus, who had hired the composer Joseph Haydn, was impressed by young Franz’s talent and funded his musical education in Vienna in 1822, with financial help from other nobles.

Franz Liszt was a prominent Hungarian composer of the Romantic period, known for his innovative contributions to music. He rose to international fame as a virtuoso pianist and was among the first to bring a new approach to the piano. Liszt subsequently established himself as a gifted composer of piano works and symphonic poems, a genre he himself created. Symphonic poems are orchestral works that generally unfold in a single, flowing, continuous movement.

These compositions are created to tell a story and often find inspiration in poetry, paintings, books or other non-musical art forms. They are a fascinating way to translate images and emotions outside of music into a compelling orchestral experience.

In addition, as a prolific transcriber of the works of his predecessors and a dedicated supporter of other composers, Liszt left an indelible mark on the evolution of music.

In Vienna, Liszt studied with Carl Czerny and Antonio Salieri, and the young musician was honored to be met by Beethoven, who was impressed by his abilities. The Liszt family moved to Paris in 1823, and Franz had the opportunity to perform for King George IV of Great Britain on three visits to London. Settling in Paris from 1827, Liszt came into contact with the composer Hector Berlioz, whose Romantic ideals deeply influenced him. He also went on to study with renowned teacher-composers such as Ferdinando Paer and Anton Reicha.

At the age of 21, Liszt had the opportunity to see the Italian virtuoso Niccolò Paganini in concert. After this performance, Liszt was determined to become a piano virtuoso as renowned as Paganini. His good fortune was that he lived in Paris, which was then known as the piano capital of the world. His friendships with renowned pianists and composers such as Frédéric Chopin, Sigismond Thalberg and Alexander Dreyschock strengthened his technical knowledge of the instrument.

Liszt is one of the best documented Romantic composers, with a surprisingly well-documented professional life. Although he was a deeply private individual, devoting every morning between six and noon to composing music, he also had an active social side. Afternoons were often reserved for meeting friends, writing letters, card games, walks and other social activities. His international fame and extensive correspondence have enabled scholars to reconstruct his activities in detail.

In 1833, when he was just 22, Liszt met Countess Marie d’Agoult, an encounter that profoundly changed his life. Moved by the thrill of love and the beauty of the Swiss landscape, Liszt began to compose works inspired by the Swiss countryside. In 1834, Liszt made his first notable appearance with the piano works “Harmonies poétiques et religieuses” and a set of three “Apparitions”.

Predictably, such international success brought with it… a dash of scandal and adventure.

In 1835, Liszt began a tumultuous relationship with Clara Schumann, a talented young pianist and composer who was already engaged to Robert Schumann. Clara was deeply impressed by Liszt, and an intense bond developed between them, marked by mutual admiration and desire. Liszt, known for his charisma and virtuosity, was charmed by Clara’s intellect and musical abilities.

Although Liszt did not respond directly to the sentiments of Clara, who at the time was extremely influential in musical circles, he otherwise showed his appreciation by dedicating to her in 1840, Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini. Despite their close bond, Clara tried to distance herself from Liszt over the years, especially after she began to publish works by Robert Schumann, in an attempt to protect her marriage.

As mentioned earlier, when he was only 22, Liszt met Countess Marie d’Agoult, a woman of rare beauty and remarkable erudition. Together, the two moved to Switzerland, where Marie gave birth to four children, the fourth presumed to be Charles Antoine François Davila, later known as Carol Davila. His origin has always been shrouded in mystery, as the doctor constantly avoided presenting his birth certificate or revealing the names of his parents, leaving room for speculation.

Franz Liszt died of pneumonia at the age of 74, leaving behind a priceless legacy. He is remembered as not only the most brilliant pianist of his time, but perhaps the greatest pianist who ever lived. In addition, Liszt is celebrated as one of the two greatest Hungarian composers, alongside Béla Bartók. Today, his masterpiece ‘Rhapsody No. 2’ is also known in another surprising light, thanks to the cartoon ‘Rhapsody Rabbit’, where Bugs Bunny masterfully conducts this exceptional work.

Photo credit: Franz Liszt, after an 1856 painting by Wilhelm von Kaulbach. Source here.

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