--- title: Franz Liszt author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-07-14 --- # Franz Liszt _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a Hungarian composer of Romantic [Music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/). Liszt first gained international fame as a piano virtuoso, an activity in which he was a pioneer, and then as a composer of piano works and symphonic poems, a form he created. A prolific transcriber of those who went before and a generous supporter of other composers, Liszt made a lasting contribution to the evolution of music. ### Early Life Franz Liszt was born in Raiding on 22 October 1811. The region was then part of Hungary but today it is part of eastern Austria. Franz's father, Adam Liszt, was an official at the court of Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy (1765-1833), and an amateur musician who taught Franz the piano. Prince Nikolaus had employed the composer [Joseph Haydn](https://www.worldhistory.org/Joseph_Haydn/) (1732-1809) to work at his court, and when Franz showed his obvious talent as a pianist he funded the boy's further musical education in Vienna in 1822, a cause encouraged by financial help from several other nobles. In Vienna, Franz studied under Carl Czerny (1791-1857) and Antonio Salieri (1750-1825). Beethoven met the young Hungarian and was impressed with his skills. The Liszt family moved to [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/) in 1823. They visited London three times, with Franz playing before [George IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/George_IV_of_Great_Britain/) (1762-1830). Settling in Paris from 1827, Liszt met the composer [Hector Berlioz](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hector_Berlioz/) (1803-1869), whose Romantic ideals would deeply influence the Hungarian. He continued his education under such noted teacher-composers as Ferdinando Paer (1771-1839) and Anton Reicha (1770-1836). ### Virtuoso Piano Player Liszt's destiny was shaped when he heard the great violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) play in Paris in 1831. The charismatic performance of the violinist inspired Liszt to try and emulate that success with the piano. As a composer, Liszt was later inspired by Paganini's *Caprices* to write his *Transcendental Studies* and *Grandes études de Paganini* (both 1851). Liszt, after long [hours](https://www.worldhistory.org/Horae/) of practice every day for several years, did indeed become a virtuoso player. He was helped by his long muscular fingers and thumbs, and his style of playing was certainly distinctive. [Felix Mendelssohn](https://www.worldhistory.org/Felix_Mendelssohn/) (1809-1847) once remarked: "I have not seen any musician in whom musical feeling ran, as in Liszt, into the very tips of the fingers and there streamed out immediately" (Wade-Matthews, 366). As the music historian C. Schonberg notes: > He had everything in his favor – good looks, magnetism, power, a colossal technique, an unprecedented sonority, and the kind of opportunism (at least in his early years) that could cater to the public in the most cynical manner. > (212) [ ![Franz Liszt in Concert](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/17640.png?v=1729284365-1689172491) Franz Liszt in Concert Theodor Hosemann (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17640/franz-liszt-in-concert/ "Franz Liszt in Concert")Liszt became such a popular attraction in the salons of the well-to-do, especially with the female audience members, that his idolisation became known as 'Lisztomania', a term coined by the poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856). Ladies gasped and swooned before this devil of the keyboard, they even scuffled to have possession of the maestro's gloves if he was careless enough to leave them at his piano or if he had tossed them dramatically to the floor as he often did before he began to play. Liszt fuelled the mania by playing as often as possible and selecting the showiest pieces to play, usually his own music. In addition: > He did much to raise the social status of performing musicians. His concerts were also highly innovative: he invented the term 'recital' and was the first performer to appear regularly without supporting artists; he was the first to turn the piano sideways, rather than sit facing the audience; and he was the first to play the range of repertory. > (Sadie, 226) By 1840, Liszt had established himself as the greatest-ever piano performer. He toured and gave breathtaking recitals, often to raise funds for charitable causes, across [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/) from [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/) to Russia at all manner of locations, from palaces to village halls. There was even a performance in [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/) (now Istanbul). Then, in 1847, Liszt gave up touring to focus on composing, his future public performances being rare and largely limited to charity events where he did not accept a performance fee. [ ![Western Classical Music, c. 1700-1950](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/17445.png?v=1778011088-1767515636) Western Classical Music, c. 1700-1950 Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17445/western-classical-music-c-1700-1950/ "Western Classical Music, c. 1700-1950")### Character & Relationships Liszt was tall, thin, and he wore his hair long. Schonberg gives the following summary of Liszt's complex character: > He could be kind and generous, yet could turn around and be arrogant and capricious. He was vain and needed constant adulation, yet he could be genuinely humble in the presence of a genius such as Wagner…To many he was the Renaissance Man of music. His admirers could see only his good points. To others he was all tinsel and claptrap… > (213) For a man known for his piety in his old age, Liszt certainly enjoyed some amorous adventures in his youth. The pianist began a relationship with Countess Marie d'Agoult in 1834. After the married Marie became pregnant with Liszt's child, the couple lived for a time in Switzerland and then [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). The travels of this period inspired the composer to write a number of piano pieces grouped into three 'years' and collectively titled *Années de pèlerinage* (*Years of Pilgrimage*). Ultimately, the couple had three children together: Daniel died of consumption aged 20 in 1859, Blondine died in 1862, and the third, Cosima (b. 1837) went on to marry the conductor Hans von Bülow (1830-1894) and then the composer [Richard Wagner](https://www.worldhistory.org/Richard_Wagner/) (1813-1883). The latter arrangement put a strain on Wagner and Liszt's relationship, but the two were eventually reconciled. Liszt and the Countess lived apart from 1839 and fully separated in 1844, their relationship unable to stand the stress of Liszt's constant touring. In 1848, Liszt took up his position as the music director of the Weimar ducal court – he was given the flamboyant title of 'Kapellmeister Extraordinary'. He now lived with Princess Carolyne Sayn-Wittgenstein, who was estranged from her husband and trying to secure a divorce (something she never managed). It was at Weimar that Liszt now wrote many of his most influential pieces. [ ![Franz Liszt in 1858](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/17641.png?v=1689172726-1689172754) Franz Liszt in 1858 Franz Hanfstaengl (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17641/franz-liszt-in-1858/ "Franz Liszt in 1858")### Weimar Liszt wrote two symphonies inspired by the Faust legend, a figure who strikes a deal with the Devil to gain great knowledge and power at the cost of his soul. Liszt composed the two-movement *[Dante](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dante_Alighieri/)* Symphony (full title: *A Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy*) c. 1856 and the *Faust* Symphony c. 1857. The latter has three movements: *Faust*, *Gretchen*, and *Mephistopheles*. Liszt created the symphonic poem (and coined the term itself), essentially a one-movement symphony but inspired by a literary text, artwork or even a landscape. At Weimar, Liszt composed a whole series of symphonic poems such as *Tasso*, *Les préludes* based on a poem by Alphonse de Lamartine, *Mazeppa*, *Hamlet*, and *Hunnenschlacht* (*[Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of the [Huns](https://www.worldhistory.org/Huns/)*). He composed the Piano Concerto in E flat (1853) – which gives unusual prominence to the humble triangle, the *Totentanz* (*Dance of [Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/)*) for piano and orchestra (1849 but revised twice), the Hungarian Rhapsodies, and the *Harmonies poétiques et religieuses* cycle of piano pieces. Never entirely satisfied with his work, the composer frequently revisited pieces to revise them over his long career. In addition, it is noteworthy that some of Liszt's piano works are a real challenge to play, even for an accomplished pianist. Other works, in contrast, seem irresistible to almost all piano players, notably songs like *Liebestraum* No. 3 (*Dream of Love*). His Piano Sonata in B minor (1854), with its twisting manipulation of a central theme, is considered a key piece of the Romantic music movement. Liszt supported other composers throughout his career, transcribed hundreds of works by others, and he formed a centre in Weimar for up-and-coming composers who were pushing against the rules of classical music or pioneering music in their own countries such as [Edvard Grieg](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edvard_Grieg/) (1843-1907) in Norway and Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) in Bohemia. As a conductor, Liszt showcased works by Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, [Franz Schubert](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Schubert/) (1797-1828), [Robert Schumann](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Schumann/) (1810-1856), [Giuseppe Verdi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giuseppe_Verdi/) (1813-1901), and Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) amongst many others. Liszt particularly championed works of opera, perhaps as some sort of compensation for his own single foray into that field, his *Don Sanche* of 1825. Liszt's time at Weimar came to an end after the conservative society there had finally had enough of his scandalous relationship with Princess Carolyne who could not persuade her husband to give her a divorce despite appealing to the Pope for help. Liszt's promotion of up-and-coming composers and their new ideas did not endear him to the people of Weimar either. Liszt brought his Weimar period to an end when he moved to [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) in 1861. ### The Abbot in Rome As an older man, Liszt described himself as the Abbé Liszt (Liszt the Abbot) and wore a cassock. In Rome and single again, he took the decision to join the priesthood in 1865, albeit taking only minor orders (doorkeeper, reader, acolyte, and exorcist). Liszt never gave up [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), although his orders did not, in any case, include celibacy. Schonberg is of the opinion that the composer "never took his [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) very seriously. He only made a great show of taking it seriously" (214). There were those who described the composer as 'Mephistopheles in a cassock', a not unjustified title given such scandals as that involving one of many lovers, Olga Janina, who tried to shoot Liszt and then take her own life. Liszt continued to compose but now focused on sacred music. He had already turned in this direction three years before with his oratorio *Die Legende von der heilige Elisabeth* (*Legend of St. Elizabeth*). By 1867, he had completed his *Christus* oratorio. Other sacred works included songs, Masses, and organ and piano works. Oddly, though, Liszt remained attracted to the Faust legend, producing three more of his *Mephisto Waltzes* in 1880, 1883, and 1885. [ ![Franz Liszt in 1886](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/17630.png?v=1689068921-1689068967) Franz Liszt in 1886 Nadar (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17630/franz-liszt-in-1886/ "Franz Liszt in 1886")### Liszt's Most Famous Works The most famous works by the composer Franz Liszt include: *Années de pèlerinage* - *Years of Pilgrimage* anthology of piano pieces (1836-77) 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies for solo piano (1846-85) *Les préludes* symphonic poem (1848, revised 1854) Piano concerto No. 1 (1849) Piano concerto No. 2 (1849) *Funérailles* for solo piano (1849) *Tasso* symphonic poem (1849) *Liebesträum* piano works (1850) *Mazeppa* symphonic poem (1851, revised 1854) *[Orpheus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Orpheus/)* symphonic poem (1853-4) Piano Sonata in B minor (1854) *Dante* Symphony (1854-56) *Faust* Symphony (1857) E-flat Piano Concerto (1857) 4 *Mephisto Waltzes* (1861-85) *Die Legende von der heilige Elisabeth* – *Legend of St. Elizabeth* oratorio (1862) *Christus* oratorio (1867) ### Death & Legacy Liszt regularly visited Hungary from 1869, often staying several months at a time, typically in the spring and autumn. He spent his summers in and around Weimar and the winters in Rome. In Pest, the composer set up a music academy, and in 1875, he was appointed the director of the Hungarian Royal Academy. He continued to teach and gave master classes, which were attended by just about every up-and-coming pianist of note in Europe. [ ![Franz Liszt Monument, Weimar](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/17642.jpg?v=1689173032-1689173050) Franz Liszt Monument, Weimar Colin Smith (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17642/franz-liszt-monument-weimar/ "Franz Liszt Monument, Weimar")In 1882, Liszt was inspired by a premonition of the death of his son-in-[law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) Wagner to write his *La lugubre gondola* piano piece. Wagner, as it happened, died the next year of a heart attack while in Venice. In 1885, Liszt added to his collection of solo piano works titled Hungarian Rhapsodies to make a total of 20 (but only 19 were published). Most critics see little about them which is Hungarian and would prefer a more suitable title like '[Gypsy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Romani/)'. Liszt's final compositions were more experimental: "the sparseness of texture, harmonic ambiguity and dark expressive remoteness look forward daringly to the twentieth century" (Sadie, 227). The last of the founding generation of Romantics, Liszt had perhaps glimpsed the future of music and the Modernists yet to come. In 1886, he toured [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) and performed in front of [Queen Victoria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Victoria/) (r. 1837-1901), who gave him a bust as a memento. Physically frail in his final years, Franz Liszt died of pneumonia in Bayreuth in Bavaria on 31 July 1886. He was buried in the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)'s cemetery. Liszt was a pioneer in his creation of the symphonic poem and his ideas on the virtuoso piano player, but he was influential in several other ways, too, as here summarised by the musicologist D. Watson: > In his late works he anticipates the whole-tone and pianistic-impressionistic techniques of Debussy, the atonality of Schoenberg, the sparse linear textures of Webern and the Hungarian works of Bartók…His later admirers were as diverse as Busoni, who may be regarded as his spiritual heir, and Stravinsky, who praised Liszt the pioneer. > (Arnold, 1073) #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Arnold, Denis. *The New Oxford Companion to Music .* Oxford University Press, 1983.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0193113163/) - [Sadie, S. et al. *Classical Music Encyclopedia& Expanded Edition .* Flame Tree Music, 2014.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1783612835/) - [Schonberg, Harold C. *The Lives Of The Great Composers.* Abacus, 1998.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0349109729/) - [Steen, Michael. *The Lives and Times of the Great Composers.* Oxford University Press, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195222180/) - [Wade-Matthews et al. *The Encyclopedia of Music.* Lorenz Books, 2020.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0754835022/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **1811 CE - 1886 CE**: Life of the Hungarian composer [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/). - **22 Oct 1811 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) is born in Raiding, then in Hungary but today in Austria. - **1822 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) studies in Vienna. - **1831 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) hears the great violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini in [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/) and is inspired to become a virtuoso pianist. - **1834 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) begins a relationship with Countess Marie d'Agoult. - **1837 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/)'s daughter Cosima is born. - **1840 CE - 1847 CE**: Height of 'Lisztomania' where [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) causes a sensation giving piano recitals. - **1844 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) separates from Countess Marie d'Agoult. - **1848 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) takes up his position as the [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/) director of the Weimar ducal court. - **1848 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) begins a scandalous relationship with Princess Carolyne Sayn-Wittgenstein. - **1848 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Les préludes symphonic poem. - **1849 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Piano concerto No. 1 and No. 2. - **1850 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Liebesträum piano works. - **1853 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Piano Concerto in E flat. - **1854 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Piano Sonata in B minor. - **c. 1856 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his [Dante](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dante_Alighieri/) Symphony. - **c. 1857 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Faust Symphony. - **1861 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) leaves Weimar and moves to [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **1862 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his oratorio Die Legende von der heilige Elisabeth (Legend of St. Elizabeth). - **1865 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) takes minor orders and calls himself the Abbé Liszt. - **1867 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Christus oratorio. - **1875 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) establishes a [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/) academy in Pest. - **1877 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his Années de pèlerinage - Years of Pilgrimage anthology of piano pieces. - **1885 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his quartet of Mephisto Waltzes. - **1885 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) completes his collection of solo piano works titled Hungarian Rhapsodies. - **31 Jul 1886 CE**: [Franz Liszt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) dies of pneumonia in Bayreuth in Bavaria. ## Questions & Answers ### Who did Franz Liszt fall in love with? Franz Liszt had many lovers, but the most infamous two are Countess Marie d’Agoult and Princess Carolyne Sayn-Wittgenstein. ### What is Franz Liszt famous for? Franz Liszt is famous for being a 19th-century composer of Romantic music and a virtuoso piano player. ### What is the cause of death of Franz Liszt? Franz Liszt died of pneumonia in Bayreuth in Bavaria on 31 July 1886. ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2023, July 14). Franz Liszt. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz\_Liszt/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Franz Liszt." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 14, 2023. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz\_Liszt/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Franz Liszt." *World History Encyclopedia*, 14 Jul 2023, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz\_Liszt/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franz_Liszt/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 14 July 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.