"Eh, what's up, Doc? Who...? Franz Liszt? Never heard of him... Wrong number."
Posted on 10/21/2011 3:17:12 PM PDT by Borges
On Oct. 22, 1811, Franz Liszt was born in the Hungarian (now Austrian) village of Raiding. His bicentenary follows hard on the heels of Chopin’s, last year, and anticipates Wagner’s and Verdi’s, in 2013.
But whereas no one really doubts the greatness of Wagner or Verdi, and Chopin seems universally beloved, things are not so straightforward with Liszt. He was, to be sure, an unrivaled performer (“A god for pianists” in Berlioz’s words), a man of unusually catholic artistic interests and the 19th century’s nearest approach to a Hollywood superstar. But although he is surely significant enough to celebrate, the question whether his music is actually any good has never really gone away.
It probably never will. Liszt, like his music, was constructed of paradoxes, as he well knew. “Half Gypsy, half Franciscan monk,” he called himself; another contemporary called him “Mephistopheles disguised as a priest.” But if his life was to some extent a touring soap opera played out publicly on various European stages, what the more prudish Mendelssohn described as a “constant oscillation between scandal and apotheosis,” it was at least a drama with a sympathetic protagonist. And for all his worldly success, Liszt didn’t have a particularly easy ride.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Classical Ping
No question about. 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody.
Franz Liszt’s Liebestraum No.3 is my favorite classical piano tune. I like the version by Arthur Rubinstein.
So, they’re saying he’s not on the A-Liszt?
"Eh, what's up, Doc? Who...? Franz Liszt? Never heard of him... Wrong number."
Take your pick;
The Cat Concerto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXo7pr8iRM
Or
Bugs Bunny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYM84n-2Sas
As a pianist, I don’t think he has the raw genius of a Chopin or the power of Beethoven, but he has to rank high in the pantheon.
All of the Hungarian Rhapsodies are wonderful, IMHO. Even if Franz DID derive some of his melodies from existing Gypsy tunes (So did Brahms! LOL)
My favorite version of The Hungarian Rhapsody #2 is the Tome and Jerry Version, and also the Bugs Bunny version! };-)
Les Preludes is nice too, as well as Liebestraum #3.
I grew up with the orchestral version of Hungarian Rhapsody #2, but as a pianist, I now listen to them all for solo piano.
Are you saying he wouldn’t be on your liszt?
Sorry I’m late, I’m bach from chopin at Frye’s for a better oven, but I boughton shoes, mann!
He didn’t hide the fact that he derived those melodies. It was considered an act of homage to that culture.
That is true. He was very proud of his heritage. In fact, he rhapsodized over it! LOL!
absolutely...
Just happened to play Les Preludes in iTunes last night.
Of course that led to other other things.
Rick
another wonderful piece used in cinema... Flash Gordon theme also iirc
I’ll give him a liszten.
A first rate second rate composer.
The Beethoven Symphony transcriptions are pretty amazing too. Katsaris plays on the recordings I have. Symphony No. 7 is my favorite.
ML/NJ
I like it when my classical station regularly plays one or two piano or orchestral pieces by this wonderful composer.
My musical life without him would be quite listzless and lacking paprika.
Leni
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