Franz Liszt 200 Years: The Greatest Pianist In History?
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was the greatest piano virtuoso of his time. He also had a great influence in shaping the western musical canon.
With his assistance, new composers such as Berlioz and Wagner became famous. He also promoted past virtuosos, such as Beethoven, Bach, Handel and Schubert.
In his compositions, he developed a totally unique piano technique, made unheard of experiments in harmony, and invented the symphonic poem. Liszt was born in Hungary but went to Vienna when he was a child. There he studied with Czerny and Salieri and met Beethoven and Schubert.
He settled in Paris while he was still a teenager. He soon became a prominent figure in society, mainly due to his talent at the piano, but also due to his various romantic escapades, which were the subject of a great deal of gossip. At this time, Liszt became familiar with several musical contemporaries like Alkan, Berlioz, Chopin, and others. During these early years, one of the most critical events was his attendance at the concerts of Niccol