Thread: Franz Liszt

I've said mean things about Liszt in the past, but I like him more now, even though he's still not a favorite. The Don Juan and Norma fantasies are a lot of fun. I also like La Leggierezza, an underrated piece.

Horowitz & Liszt






How can anyone not like Liszt after this?

I would already worship Liszt if Au Bord D'une Source was his only composition.

Originally Posted by DeepR

I would already worship Liszt if Au Bord D'une Source was his only composition.

One of his finest quasi-impressionist pieces, only behind the Legendes (especially the first) and Les Jex d'eaux a'la Villa d'este.

Originally Posted by Lisztian

What do you think of this middle period piece?

Best way I can describe this piece is it's like Wagner and Chopin had a baby and this is the product. I've definitely heard this work several times before. I like parts of it (sounds very much like Amy Beach at moments) but the parts that sound like Chopin pianistically are not my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of Chopin in general. I like his music generally but very few of his works are on my short list of greatest compositions.

Overall, it's a nice work. More like what I'm interested in.

Originally Posted by Romantic Geek

short list of greatest compositions.

Might I ask which solo piano pieces are on this short list?

Originally Posted by Lisztian

Might I ask which solo piano pieces are on this short list?

It's one that I don't think about too often when it comes to specifics, but a few off the top of my head:

Brahms Op. 118
Beethoven Op. 53
Schubert D. 960

Great article on Liszt.

http://publicdomainreview.org/2011/1...ill-important/

img.DruryLisztIvesStock-168.jpg

A very fiery performance of selected Transcendental Etudes. I also like this album because it juxtaposes old with new.

The Horowitz clips were interesting. The Japanese seem to really love him.

Liszt' piano music is a good vehicle for virtuosic showcasing. In this sense, it is music which appeals to the senses. It is very visceral music with no pretensions.

It is very interesting how his compositional style drastically changed with years. From the early virtuoso bombastic pieces filled with raging octaves, to his mid fase exploring te orchestra and his religious fase, and the late coquetting with atonality and going away from romantism.
And even more interesting is that I like all his fases equally.
There is something special in even the emptiest paraphrases, like a watermark on the piece, like a sign that hasn't changed untill his death. I don't know what it is.

Funny fact Franz Listz was born 22th of october and so was i!

Originally Posted by Nadia

It is very interesting how his compositional style drastically changed with years. From the early virtuoso bombastic pieces filled with raging octaves, to his mid fase exploring te orchestra and his religious fase, and the late coquetting with atonality and going away from romantism.
And even more interesting is that I like all his fases equally.
There is something special in even the emptiest paraphrases, like a watermark on the piece, like a sign that hasn't changed untill his death. I don't know what it is.

I think the thing that shines through all his music, from the least to most inspired, is a remarkable spirit and personality.

I never heard a better explination of the dazzling phenomenon.

I think either Liszt or God told me in a dream this is what he envisioned when he wrote Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2:
A funeral service, the burning of the coffin, everyone attending the bar and crying a bit, people getting merrier, a slight cockney knees up occurring, the dashing young architect dances with the liberated widow, acts of passion occur, the young man wakes up with a thunderous migraine and a gut laden with guilt, credits roll.

Screenplay by Richard Curtis, of course.

It happened, honest!

Astonishing work. One of the darkest, most tragic, and simply devastating pieces of the 19th century and perhaps my favourite symphonic poem by Liszt - unfortunately it's rarely heard.

Originally Posted by Lisztian

Astonishing work. One of the darkest, most tragic, and simply devastating pieces of the 19th century and perhaps my favourite symphonic poem by Liszt - unfortunately it's rarely heard.

Thank you for posting this - I love it.....the sort of music I like! Dark I know...but full of emotion!