Franz Liszt

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Sheet Music and Program Notes

Franz List was a Hungarian composer, pianst and philanthropist of the Romantic era.  He was a friend and benefactor to Frederic Chopin, Richard Wagner, Robert Schumann Saint-Saens, Hector Berlioz Edvard Gried, Mikhail Glinka and Alexander Borodin. 

Liszt came from a musical family.  His father was friends with Haydn, Hummel and Beethoven and began giving Liszt piano lessons at the age of seven.  Later Liszt studied piano with Carl Czerny, who was a student of Beethoven, and composition with Antonio Salieri.  

For the last twenty nine years of his life he donated all proceeds from his concerts to music and humanitarian causes.  

Liszt was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of all time, and his compositions include symphonic poems, concertos, and solo piano works.

Liszt was born in Doborján, Hungary (now Raiding, Austria). He began studying piano at the age of five, and by the time he was 12, he was giving public concerts. In 1823, he moved to Paris to study with the pianist and composer Czerny. Liszt quickly became a celebrity in Paris, and his concerts were often attended by royalty and other dignitaries.

In the 1830s, Liszt began to tour Europe, and his concerts were met with great enthusiasm. He was known for his virtuosity, his improvisation skills, and his ability to connect with audiences. Liszt also became a leading figure in the Romantic movement, and his compositions helped to shape the sound of Romantic music.

In later life, Liszt retired from concertizing and devoted himself to teaching and composing. He founded the Liszt Academy of Music in Weimar, Germany, and he also served as a conductor at the Weimar Court Theatre. Liszt died in Bayreuth, Germany, in 1886.

Liszt's music is characterized by its virtuosity, its emotional intensity, and its use of Romantic themes. He is considered one of the most important composers of the Romantic period, and his influence can be heard in the works of many other composers, including Chopin, Wagner, and Brahms.