A masterpiece by Franz Liszt. Popular classical music.
We introduce the masterpieces of Franz Liszt, who was born in Hungary and was active across Europe, including Germany and Austria.
From the works of Liszt—renowned as a pianist and also a composer for famous pieces such as La Campanella and Liebesträume—we present recommended and representative masterpieces, including not only piano works but also symphonic pieces performed by orchestra.
Please enjoy the many wonderful masterpieces by this composer, known as the “Magician of the Piano” for the anecdote that he could sight-read and master any piece.
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Franz Liszt’s masterpieces: Popular classical music (81–90)
Piano Sonata in D minorFranz Liszt
Franz Liszt left an enormous number of works for the piano and gained renown as an outstanding pianist himself.
This piece is composed by applying his method of compressing the three movements he used in his symphonic poems into a single movement.
It employs the technique of “thematic transformation,” in which elements of a theme are transformed in various ways to generate new themes.
The principal theme introduced at the beginning reappears throughout the piece in many different guises, shaping the overall structure.
Enjoy listening as the theme evolves!
Mephisto Waltz No. 1Franz Liszt
A notoriously difficult piece packed with virtuoso techniques characteristic of Franz Liszt.
Mephistopheles plays a waltz on the violin, and the people dance.
Eventually, after spotting a girl named Margarete, Mephistopheles slips away with her into the forest.
The piece vividly depicts scenes such as a nightingale singing in the night sky.
Rather than an elegant waltz, it overflows with an overwhelming energy more akin to wild, ecstatic revelry, allowing one to fully savor the splendor of grand piano virtuosity.
Mephisto Waltz No. 1: “Dance at the Village Inn”Franz Liszt
One of the difficult pieces lavishly packed with Liszt-like virtuosic techniques.
Mephisto plays a waltz on the violin, and people begin to dance.
Eventually, Mephisto finds a girl named Margarete and slips away with her into the forest.
The piece vividly depicts such scenes, with a nightingale singing in the night sky.
Rather than an elegant waltz, it brims with overwhelming energy—more a frenzy of ecstatic revelry—offering a piece where one can fully savor magnificent piano virtuosity.
La Campanella: Grandes études de PaganiniFranz Liszt
“La Campanella” means “the little bell” in Italian.
The composer Liszt, impressed by the virtuosity of the genius violinist Paganini, composed it out of a desire to express similarly transcendental technique himself.
Symphonic poem ‘Les Préludes (The Preludes)’Franz Liszt
This is a symphonic poem composed by Franz Liszt in 1854.
Among the thirteen symphonic poems he wrote, it is perhaps the most frequently performed.
A symphonic poem is an orchestral work based on the content of a poem, and the form is said to have been pioneered by Liszt.
This particular piece was inspired by a poem by Alphonse de Lamartine and conveys the idea that life is a prelude to death.
Its dramatic development is captivating, and simply listening to the music allows one to sense the poem’s content.
Symphonic Poem “Les Préludes”Franz Liszt
The third symphonic poem Franz Liszt, known as the “Magician of the Piano,” released after retiring as a pianist to devote himself to composing and conducting.
This symphonic poem bears a program that begins, “Our life is a prelude to death.” The piece is performed without breaks and consists of four sections that evoke “the beginning of life, love,” “the storm,” “the pastoral,” and “the battle.” Please enjoy this drama of life, painted with the rich colors of the orchestra.
Franz Liszt’s masterpieces. Popular classical music (91–100)
Legend S.175 No. 2 “St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves”Franz Liszt
Even when we speak broadly of “difficult pieces,” there are many kinds.
Some, like Mazeppa, are difficult in a single, concentrated way, while others, like the Toccata, are difficult because they incorporate a wide range of techniques.
The piece I’m introducing here, Legend S.175 No.
2 “St.
Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves,” belongs to the latter category.
Liszt’s distinctive fingering is clearly reflected in this work as well, and it also demands a fair amount of stamina.
Because there are so many techniques one must cover, it can feel more difficult than a typical piece would be judged to be.
