Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Donald Macleod uncovers key aspects of Liszt’s soul and identity

Franz Liszt was the original musical heartthrob - the most photographed man of the 19th century, who left a legacy of more than 700 compositions and in the course of his career made well over 1000 concert appearances. With his electrifying talent at the keyboard, he transformed the status of musician from servant to demigod. But he was also a man of complex character, who wore many masks and repeatedly reinvented himself. This week, Donald Macleod uncovers key slices of Liszt’s soul and identity.

Music Featured:

Prelude (No 1 from 12 Transcendental studies) Grand galop chromatique “Un sospiro” (from 3 Etudes de concert, S144 No 3) “La Campanella” (from Grandes Etudes de Paganini, S141 No 3) Mephisto Waltz No 1 Piano Concerto No 1 in E flat major, S124 Gnomenreigen En rêve Romance oubliée, S132 Premiere année de pèlerinage, S160: Suisse (excerpt) Die Lorelei Les Preludes Liebestraum No 3 in A flat major Salve Regina Dante Symphony S109 (iii. Magnificat) Les morts: Oraison Legendes, S175: St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds 10 Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: Benediction de dieu dans la solitude (excerpt) Christus, Part 3: Resurrexit Mephisto Waltz No 4 Der Doppelgänger (after Schubert’s Schwanengesang) Grandes études de Paganini, No 5 “La Chasse”, S141 La lugubre gondola II Funeral Odes, No 3 “Le triomphe funebre du Tasse” Consolation No 1 in E major, S172 Kennst du das Land Rakoczy March (from Hungarian Rhapsody No 15) Enfant, si j’etais roi Im Rhein, im schoenen Strome Isten Veled! Troisieme année de pèlerinage: Les jeux d’eau sur la villa d’Este Wiegenlied Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 (orch. Doppler)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Franz Liszt (1811-1886) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002454z

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z