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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Franz (originally Ferencz) Liszt was born in Raiding (Geographers please advise us with further information), in Hungary and was a child prodigy. He received his first piano lessons from his father, who was a steward in the service of Prince Esterhazy. At the age of nine he had earned enough patronage to finance his studies for a number of years.

His personal life reads like an over-exaggerated novel. At twenty-two he lived with Countess Marie d'Agoult. They had three children. Their daughter Cosima became the wife of first Bulow, and then of Wagner. At 36 Franz became the lover of Princess Carolyn Sayn-Wittgenstein. He continued to have amorous adventures throughout his life.

When he was 54 in 1879 he was made an honorary canon, taking minor orders in Rome and becoming the Abbé Liszt. This enabled him to outwardly display the faith which had been his strength since his youth. Throughout his life he was a warm and generous person, readily giving earnings from his genius to charitable causes. He also enthusiastically gave his time and his expertise to his students and contemporaries, in turn influencing their students. He supported and encouraged the work of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, turning the course of musical history.

Liszt was a famous and flamboyant virtuoso pianist (arguably the finest in Europe (the world?) at the time). As well as being a composer and conductor, he was a very generous champion of young musicians and influenced their thinking with his innovative style and powerful personality. Franz toured Europe, with several visits to England, during his long career. He died in Bayreuth in 1886, at the age of 75.

Musically he had an enormous influence on the musical scene of his time, and certainly on Arthur Sullivan, who greatly admired his artistry, brilliance and musical skills. He was a prolific composer, and one of his most famous compositions is the Liebestraume. We have also included two other well known pieces: Consolation. and the famous Rákoczy March.

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