Early life
Franz Liszt was born October 22, 1811 in Doborján to Anna Liszt and Adam Liszt. His father, a steward for the Esterhazy court, gave him piano lessons at age six. In Vienna he studied under Carl Czerny and Antonio Salieri.
Franz Liszt.
Franz Ritter von Liszt
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1,208
Words
Published
31
Books
6
Awards
TL;DR
Piano virtuoso Franz Liszt, born in 1811, began his career at age 12 in Paris. His diabolical stage presence and Mephisto Waltz made him a concert star. His piano transcriptions of Beethoven symphonies and Wagner operas are still played.
Identity & family.
KIN · 4Names, aliases, and relatives of Franz Liszt — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Native Name
Franz Ritter von Liszt
Aliases
Liszt Ferenc, List, Ferenc Liszt, Liszt
- Parents
- Anna Liszt Adam Liszt
- Children
- Cosima Wagner Daniel Liszt
At a glance.
STATSFranz Liszt by the numbers — life, work, and family.
74
Years lived
31
Books
6
Awards
2
Children
Who was Franz Liszt?
BIOGRAPHYFranz Liszt — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Career
In 1823, at age 12, Liszt moved with his parents to Paris, beginning his career as a traveling virtuoso. In Paris he befriended Frédéric Chopin; they later became rivals. His compositions, including the Mephisto Waltz and Hungarian Rhapsodies, pushed the boundaries of piano technique. Liszt also made piano transcriptions of symphonies by Beethoven, Berlioz, and Wagner.
Personal life
Liszt lived with Countess Marie D’Agoult for 12 years, fathering three children, including Cosima Wagner, who later married Richard Wagner. After 1847, he had a relationship with Princess Carolyne Wittgenstein. The church forbade their marriage, and under her influence he took holy orders in 1865 and composed religious music.
Legacy
Liszt’s influence on piano technique and composition included pioneering the symphonic poem. He influenced composers like Richard Wagner, who became his son-in-law. The Mephisto Waltz and his piano transcriptions remain concert staples. He died in Bayreuth in 1886, remembered as the archetypal virtuoso.
Awards & honors.
AWARDS · 6Every award, honor, and recognition received by Franz Liszt — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
- Order of the Golden Spur
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
- Commander of the Order of Christ
- honorary doctor of the University of Königsberg
- Knight of the Order of the Iron Crown Austria
Bibliography.
BOOKS · 31Franz Liszt's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
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Letters of Franz Liszt
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Life of Chopin
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Franz Liszt
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An Artist's Journey
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Lettres D'un Bachelier èS Musique
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Liszt Masterpieces for Solo Piano
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Mephisto Waltz and Other Works for Solo Piano
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Selected Letters
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The Letters of Franz Liszt, . from Paris to Rome
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Liszt Piano Concerto #2 a Major
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A Faust Symphony
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A Faust Symphony in Full Score
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Music Minus One Piano: Liszt Concerto No. 2 in a Major, S125
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Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
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Notable quotes.
QUOTES · 1A wall of memorable lines from Franz Liszt — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
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To Love Be a Man and Love a Man Is Not Evil. God Wants You to Love All!
Did you know?
FACTS · 8Little-known facts about Franz Liszt — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
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Liszt eloped to Switzerland with Countess Marie d’Agoult; their relationship ended in 1844. They had three children: Blandine 1835, Cosima 1837, and Daniel 1839. Daniel died in 1859 at age 21, prompting Liszt’s compositions Two Episodes from Lenau’s Faust and Les Morts. Blandine died in childbirth in 1862. Cosima later left her husband for Richard Wagner, bearing his children Isolde, Eva, and Siegfried before marrying in 1870.
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Franz Liszt is mentioned in the cartoon Rhapsody Rabbit from 1946.
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He was the father of Cosima Wagner.
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Liszt is the great-great-grandfather of Eva Wagner-Pasquier, Nike Wagner, and Katharina Wagner.
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He became the father-in-law of Richard Wagner when Cosima married him.
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He was the grandfather of Siegfried Wagner.
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He is the great-grandfather of Wieland Wagner, Wolfgang Wagner, Friedelind Wagner, and Verena Lafferentz.
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Liszt’s enormous hands could stretch a 12th interval on the piano.
You wanted to know.
FAQ · 30Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Franz Liszt.
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When was Franz Liszt born?
Franz Liszt was born on October 22, 1811 in Doborján, Hungary. His birth marked the start of a remarkable music career. -
Where was Franz Liszt born?
He was born in Doborján, Hungary, which is now known as Raiding in Burgenland, Austria. The region was part of the Austrian Empire at the time. -
When did Franz Liszt die?
Franz Liszt died on July 31, 1886 in Bayreuth, Bavaria, Germany. He was 74 years old. -
How old was Franz Liszt when he died?
He was 74 years old at the time of his death. He died in Bayreuth in 1886. -
Where did Franz Liszt die?
He died in Bayreuth, Bavaria, Germany. He spent his last years traveling between Rome, Weimar, Budapest, and Bayreuth. -
How did Franz Liszt die?
His cause of death was pneumonia. He contracted the illness in Bayreuth in July 1886. -
What was Franz Liszt's native name?
His native name in German was Franz Ritter von Liszt. In Hungarian he was known as Liszt Ferenc. -
What did Franz Liszt do for a living?
He was a composer, virtuoso pianist, and music educator. He is regarded as the leading concert pianist of the 19th century. -
What nationality was Franz Liszt?
He was Hungarian by citizenship. He was born in the Austrian Empire but identified as Hungarian throughout his life. -
What language did Franz Liszt speak?
His native language was German. This was common in the Austrian Empire where he was raised. -
Who were Franz Liszt's parents?
His father was Adam Liszt, who worked at the Court of Count Esterhazy. His mother was Anna Liszt. -
How many children did Franz Liszt have?
Liszt had three children with Countess Marie d’Agoult: daughters Blandine and Cosima, and son Daniel. Cosima later married Richard Wagner. -
Where was Franz Liszt educated?
He studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. His teachers included Carl Czerny and Antonio Salieri. -
What awards did Franz Liszt receive?
He received the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, Order of the Golden Spur, and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art. He also earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Königsberg. -
How many awards did Franz Liszt win?
He won six major awards, including the Order of the Iron Crown and Commander of the Order of Christ. His honors reflect his great influence. -
How tall was Franz Liszt?
He was 6 feet 1 inch 1.85 m tall. His height contributed to his striking stage presence. -
What are Franz Liszt's aliases?
He is also known as Liszt Ferenc in Hungarian, and occasionally as Ferenc Liszt or simply Liszt. These names reflect his bicultural heritage. -
What was Franz Liszt's birth name?
His birth name was Ferenc Liszt, the Hungarian version. He later adopted the German form Franz Liszt for his international career. -
What is Franz Liszt best known for?
He is known as the greatest piano virtuoso of the 19th century. He composed the Mephisto Waltz and Hungarian Rhapsodies, and invented the piano recital. -
Who taught Franz Liszt piano?
His first teacher was his father Adam Liszt. Later, he studied in Vienna with Carl Czerny for piano and Antonio Salieri for composition. -
Who was Franz Liszt's famous friend and rival?
He had an early friendship with Frédéric Chopin in Paris. Later they became rivals as both led the Romantic era in music. -
What is the Mephisto Waltz?
It is a piano piece by Liszt depicting the Devil playing a Paganini-style violin. The piece stands out for its technical difficulty and diabolical character. -
What are Hungarian Rhapsodies?
They are a set of 19 piano compositions by Liszt based on Hungarian folk music. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is among his most recognizable works. -
Did Franz Liszt become a priest?
In 1865 he took holy orders from the Pope. He became an abbé under the influence of Princess Carolyne Wittgenstein. -
What was Franz Liszt's relationship with Richard Wagner?
Liszt was a friend and later father-in-law to Richard Wagner. His daughter Cosima left her husband to marry Wagner in 1870. -
What is a piano transcription by Liszt?
Liszt made brilliant piano arrangements of symphonies by Beethoven and operas by Wagner. These transcriptions remain repertoire staples for pianists. -
How large were Franz Liszt's hands?
His enormous hands could stretch a 12th interval on the piano. This allowed him to perform wide chords that other pianists found impossible. -
Where is Franz Liszt buried?
He is buried in Bayreuth, Germany. This city is closely associated with Richard Wagner’s festival. -
What is Liszt's most famous piece for piano?
The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is among his most recognizable works. It has been featured in countless films and cartoons. -
What influence did Franz Liszt have on music?
He pioneered the symphonic poem and influenced composers like Wagner, Berlioz, and Glinka. He set the standard for modern piano performance.
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