Franz Liszt
Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, and teacher, a central figure of the Romantic era renowned for his revolutionary piano technique and innovative compositions.
Liszt rose to fame as Europe's greatest piano virtuoso before focusing on composition. He pioneered the symphonic poem, contributed significantly to harmonic innovation, and championed fellow composers like Wagner and Berlioz. His later life was marked by religious devotion.
- Liszt's affair with the married Countess Marie d'Agoult caused scandal. They had three children together; their daughter Cosima later married Richard Wagner.
- At age 35, he abruptly ended his concert career, donating proceeds to charity. He later became a Catholic abbé in Rome, receiving minor holy orders in 1865.
- His legendary piano technique involved unprecedented physicality, with eyewitnesses describing keys 'raining sparks' during performances. He pioneered the solo piano recital format.
- Liszt died of pneumonia in Bayreuth during a Wagner festival. Contemporaries suggested malpractice by incompetent doctors contributed to his death.
