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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Franz Liszt's Liebestraume (or more accurately three nocturnes for pianoforte) are really transcripts of his songs: Hohe Liebe, Gestorben war ich, and O Liebe, so lang du lieben kannst. Liebestraume means Love-dreams.

This one is his best known (and best loved): the third Liebestraume in A flat. Written in 1850, it moves between A flat major, through B major to C major and back to A flat. Its moods swing from gentle to agitated and forceful. The runs were a bolt from the blue at the time of composition, and are still as exciting to play and hear. In short it's a brilliant masterpiece. But you don't want to listen to all these technicalities. On with the show!

There are some wonderful recordings of this work of genius, but we recommend you to go to a live performance if this is possible. The fingers really fly! If you would like to try this piece for yourself, but would prefer a gentler introduction, there are some more user-friendly transcriptions in G major (see the MusicSmiles bibliography). 

In any case, sit back for a few minutes now and listen to our MusicSmiles arrangement of Franz in all his glory . . .

Ready for another piano masterpiece? Click to relax with Franz's Consolation.

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