Born: 1811, Raiding, Hungary
Died: 1886, Bayreuth, Germany

"You cannot imagine how it spoils one to have been a child prodigy."

Liszt's life and work virtually defined the Romantic era. As an indefatigably touring celebrity he pushed the bounds of what pianos - and pianists - could do. As music director for the city of Weimar he created the genre of the symphonic poem and championed the radical music of other composers such as Wagner - who became his son-in-law - and Berlioz. As a semi-reclusive mystic, he extended harmonic language and developed forms that pre-figured many ideas and procedures in the next century.

Further listening:

19 Hungarian Rhapsodies (1846-1885)
Michele Campanella, piano (Philips)

Sonata in B minor (1852-1853)
Alfred Brendel, piano (Philips)

A Faust Symphony (1854-1857)
Boston Symphony, Leonard Bernstein (DG)

Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H (1855, rev. 1870)
Catharine Crozier, organ (Delos)

02/07