Liebestraum and Liszt

Franz Liszt, age 28
(a portrait by Ingres dedicated to the Countess Marie d'Agoult)

Liebestraum is a set of three solo piano works published in 1850 by Hungarian virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886). The most famous is the last one, in A flat major. Subtitled "Notturno (Nocturne)", the three pieces were arrangements to Liszt's songs set to the 19th-century German poet Freiligrath's "O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst (O dear, so long you can love)". I found the music online today, and added it to my blog to share with my dear readers. Listen to it by clicking the play button to your left.

Liszt was a musician who would make the 19^th century European art circle look like a small one. His father was a pianist and cellist at the court of Count Esterhazy, whom (Papa) Haydn served for many years. Liszt studied music with his father when he was six. Like many music prodigies who started everything early, he composed his first piece at age eight, and gave his first piano recital at age nine. He was sent to Vienna to study piano with Beethoven’s student Carl Czerny, the only piano teacher Liszt ever had. Antonio Salieri taught him techniques of composition. Legend has it that Beethoven gave the little 12-year-old Liszt a kiss for his marvelous playing.

Three musicians greatly influenced Liszt: Berloiz, Paganini, and Chopin. Berloiz’s ideal of program music was represented in Liszt's works with their explicit programmatic titles. Paganini's amazing violin technique inspired the young pianist to become the Paganini of piano. Liszt made piano transcriptions of some of Berloiz’s and Paganini’s works, and his piano style was based on Chopin’s with his own lyrical melodic qualities and harmonic innovations.

Liszt in his days was the most successful concert virtuoso. His popularity was like today's rock stars. He toured all over Europe. Wherever he went, women threw themselves to this tall, thin and good-looking young man. He himself was a womanizer, yet at the bottom of his heart he secretly desired to become a priest (which he became later in his life). He was never married, but he had several well-publicized love affairs with married ladies of high position. His first liaison was with the Countess Marie d'Agoult, who was also known by her pen name Daniel Stern. They had three children. Their second daughter, Cosima, had an affair with Richard Wagner when she was married to Hans Von Bülow, a German pianist and conductor, who was also Liszt's favourite pupil. Von Bülow conducted the premieres of two Richard Wagner operas while his wife was giving birth to Wagner's children under his roof. Cosima eventually divorced him and married Wagner, whom also divorced his first wife.

Liszt was a loving father. He was also a modest man. He lived his life simply and unpretentiously (in spite of the affairs). He contributed greatly to charities. He promoted publications of music by Bach, Handel, and Mozart. He was a great teacher: he taught telanted pupils extensively, for free. He befriended and helped many contemporary composers, among whom Richard Wagner was the one who received most assistance. Liszt died on July 31, 1886 in Bayreuth, after travelling their to attend the Bayreuth Festival celebrating Wagner's operas.