Franz Liszt is considered by many to have been the best pianist who ever played. Even if he wasn’t the most transcendent, his audience certainly thought he was. Many have been quoted as saying that he was the greatest pianist to have ever lived. Liszt was obviously a natural and he played with feeling. In fact, the press mocked him at times, poking fun at his gestures and facial expressions. More often the reviews of his concerts spoke of the brilliance, precision, and strength of his playing. Additionally, it was also often mentioned that he had an uncanny ability for keeping absolute tempo, a fact that is generally attributed to the fact that his father made him practice with a metronome as a child.
Liszt was most definitely one of the foremost pianist and composer of his time, bringing a Romantic tradition to Western music. He influenced the course of not only the musical expression of the nineteenth century but also of the present day. He inspired composers with his imaginative approach to not just musical form, but also to harmony and structure, influencing them to explore new paths that he had forged ahead. As a pianist, he used such technical innovations which enlarged the instrument’s expressive range.
Franz Liszt
Liszt was absolutely devoted to both the progress and the promulgation of music, old and new. He raised awareness of musical geniuses who came before him, such as Bach and Beethoven, as well as introducing his contemporaries, who he felt deserved recognition as well, such as Wagner and Berlioz.
Liszt most definitely had a larger-than-life personality which went along with his charm and talent. Indeed, his good looks and charisma played a part in his popularity as well. After all, he did have his fair share of scandalous love affairs and amorous adventures. That part of his life seems at odds with the part in which he decided to take a completely different road, seeking the solace of the holy order, living in a monastery, and becoming known as Abbe Liszt. However, he may have just had a change of heart and mind later in life, perhaps wanting to prepare for death and beyond before it was too late. Perhaps it was the death of his children which changed him, for that surely can change a parent.
After all these years, Liszt and his musical abilities now have the clarity of perspective, allowing an objective assessment of the extent of his contributions and influences to the development of music. Liszt was a musical phenomenon, both in playing and directing. He made many contributions to the world of music. In addition, Liszt was not one of those who thought just because he was talented that he was above others. On the contrary, he was very generous and gave his money away countless times, coming to the aid of those in need time and again. He was seriously invested in advancing music and teaching others as well. He was definitely a character, too. After all, he had women in 1800s throwing their underclothes at him! He was a pianist and a composer, a teacher and a conductor, a writer and administrator, a philanthropist and inventor, a lover and a friend.
Biographical source: https://archive.is/Pzz1S
