Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Franz Liszt through five striking images.
Franz Liszt was the most photographed man of the 19th century and the most sculpted man aside from Napoleon - one of the most recognisable figures of his age. Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of the prolific composer and virtuoso pianist through five intriguing images. Through these, he examines the promotion of Liszt as a child prodigy, and how his persona of the ‘dramatic virtuoso’ was created. We also hear about Liszt’s complicated relationships: with women and his friend Richard Wagner, and his frantic threefold existence, living between Rome, Weimar and Budapest.
Music featured:
50 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli – Variation 24
Hungarian Rhapsody No 2Transcendental Etude No 4 'Mazeppa'Don Sanche (The Castle of Love): OvertureMalédictionChristus Grandes Etudes de Paganini No 3 'La Campanella'TotentanzEl Contrabandista – Rondo FantastiqueGrand Galop ChromatiqueCantata for Inauguration of the Beethoven Monument: Soirées de Vienne No 6Liebestraum No 3 (Nocturne)Années de pèlerinage: Au lac de WallenstadtA Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy Harmonies poétiques et religieuses: Cantique d'amourOrpheusWieder möcht' ich dir begegnen Richard Wagner (arr. Franz Liszt) Tannhäuser: Choeur des PèlerinsPrometheusA Faust Symphony: III. MephistophelesIn LiebeslustThe Legend of St Elizabeth: Chorus of the AngelsAt the Grave of Richard WagnerLegend of St Francis of Assisi: St Francis preaches to the birdsVia Crucis (Cruxis): Station VIHungarian Rhapsody No 9Nuages GrisMephisto Waltz No 2Années de pèlerinage: IV. Au bord d’une sourceRichard Wagner (arr. Franz Liszt) Tristan und Isolde: LiebestodPresented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC WalesFor full tracklistings, 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:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00022znAnd 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