Composed in 1880-1881, this virtuosic piano work is part of Liszt's diabolical series inspired by the Mephisto legend. It pioneered radical harmonies that foreshadowed Scriabin and Bartók, featuring violent expression and a famous unresolved "devil's interval" (tritone) climax. Dedicated to Camille Saint-Saëns.
Composed during Liszt's later years, Mephisto Waltz No. 2 is a virtuosic depiction of Faustian legends, characterized by its demonic energy, chromatic harmonies, and demanding technical passages that embody the diabolical spirit of Mephistopheles.
