Franz Liszt
 

Hey Peoples!

As you see I'm new to the forums, so a friendly "Hello" to all. :wave:

I must set forth a proclamation to those who can understand the excitement that's forever within my heart.

I ADORE FRANZ LISZT!

(and I know Franz Liszt was technically of the Romantic Era so not Classical, but this is the best place)

Like many Americans, Bugs Bunny was my first exposure to this charming virtuoso, but there is so much more to the man. For all his faults as a human, I just adore him, his music and his style.

I know some may not care for him, but if I was living in 1840's I would have certainly been a supporter. I love his style of teaching, his philopshjes, and nearly every composition; his piece, " Au bord d'une source" enlightens my whole being!

Has anyone read the three volume biography by Alan Walker? I've read the first, and it's such a great read.

Thank you for letting me share this, and I know many don't share this love of Liszt as much as I. It's all good. Certainly, you can share what it is that you don't find appealing about Master Liszt.

(My other love is Chopin. :love:)

I tend to prefer Chopin a little more than Liszt, but I need to check out more from the latter anyway. The christmas suite Weihnachtsbaum is one of my favorite works of his that I've discovered so far.

Don't worry about that. This sub-forum is for every era of art music (in other words, "classical" in the informal sense). :)

Thanks for the response, Gigantic Debaser. :)

Ah, I hadn't really listened to Liszts' Weihnachtsbaum much. I'll have to revisit that. Thanks!!

Well, I have to admit, I think I like Polonaise in a flat major op. 53 a bit more than the Hungarian Rhapsodies.
I actually just bought the book, "Chopin Letters," and will start reading it this week. Have you read those?

From what I researched, Liszt was the originator of how we see piano concerts today, with the lid open. I'm sure evenuatlly open lids would have emerged on the stage, but until him, pianos were mostly in small venues and "parlors."

^^

Chopin is a master of the small
Liszt is a master of the virtuosic

:thumb:

Count me among the admirers of Liszt and his music. I have the 99CD box-set of his complete solo piano music and it's amazing how much fine music he wrote. I've also been getting into his songs lately via the ongoing Hyperion complete Liszt songs project (up to four volumes so far). Some real gems there...

Now that this thread has reminded me to check out more from Liszt, I have to say I've really come to enjoy his 2nd Ballade a lot:


It has some really daring use of harmony for the time it was composed (1853). The transition between the 1st and 2nd themes [0:41] almost sounds like 20th century neoclassicism 100 years early!

Great piece :) Which Liszt works have you tried? He was my favourite composer when I was starting out with classical music so I explored the majority of his (huge) output. I'm not great regarding which are the best recordings, but I'm full of compositional recommendations if desired...

Haven't heard much to be honest. Mostly the aforementioned stuff and some of his Hungarian Rhapsodies, as well as some of his piano transcriptions of Wagner and other things. Drop a few recs itt if you like.

Listen to Valse Oublie....