Franz Liszt Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Spanish Rhapsody, Op. 254Franz Liszt50rank/position

2020 PTNA Special Class Second Round – Yui Mikami / Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole, S.254

Franz Liszt, the great composer known for writing devilishly difficult pieces.

Many people are familiar with his high-difficulty works such as La Campanella and Mazeppa.

Among Liszt’s works, however, there is a lesser-known piece of extreme difficulty: the Rhapsodie espagnole.

It not only demands rapid fingerwork and great stamina, but also features fierce leaps throughout every section.

And because it must be performed with lightness at the same time, it can be considered one of the most challenging pieces even among Liszt’s compositions.

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Ryo

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Reading Dante: Sonata-FantasiaFranz Liszt51rank/position

Vitaly Pisarenko plays Liszt – Après une lecture du Dante – Fantasia quasi sonata, S161/7

Inspired by depictions of hell in literary works, Franz Liszt’s grand masterpiece is perfect when you want to create a Halloween atmosphere that’s not just scary but profoundly evocative.

From the very beginning, the dissonance known as the “Devil’s interval” resounds, instantly dragging listeners into an unsettling world.

Records show that the work’s prototype was performed in Vienna in November 1839; it was later revised and included in the album Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année: Italie.

Famous interpretations by Alfred Brendel and Georges Cziffra are well known.

As a piano piece it is extremely challenging, and the key is to bring out the dramatic contrast between infernal torment and heavenly redemption.

Aim to express a grand, story-like world.

Dante Symphony, S.109/R.426Franz Liszt52rank/position

LISZT~Dante Symphony S.109 HD Complete *ft. Gustave Doré Scenic Storyline* Complete

Influenced by Dante, the Italian poet, this work is a grand symphony depicting Hell and Purgatory.

Completed in 1855 and premiered in Weimar in 1857, it uses intense orchestration to convey the horror and despair of Hell, then transforms in Purgatory into music filled with hope—an overwhelming experience.

Showcasing Liszt’s religious inquisitiveness and innovative musical expression, it is recommended for those who wish to take on the challenge of expressing literature through music.

It is one of the signature works of Franz Liszt, a master of Romantic music.

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, S/G 244, R 106Franz Liszt53rank/position

Nobuyuki Tsujii Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (WIDE)

Composed with inspiration from Hungarian folk songs and Romani music, this piece conveys the love of Franz Liszt—who was born in Hungary—for his homeland.

It opens with a melancholic, elegiac introduction and gradually accelerates, drawing listeners in.

Published in 1851, the work incorporates highly demanding virtuoso techniques that push the technical limits of the piano, offering performers a chance to showcase their skills.

As one of the signature works by Liszt, a leading composer of the Romantic era, it is recommended for those who cherish Hungary’s traditional music or who enjoy dazzling piano performances.

Prelude and Fugue on the Name B-A-C-HFranz Liszt54rank/position

Franz Liszt, Prélude et Fugue sur B.A.C.H. – Jean-Baptiste Dupont, orgue

A piece that radiates the commanding presence of the pipe organ.

Its solemn resonance and sacred atmosphere leave a strong impression.

Composed by Franz Liszt between 1855 and 1856, this work pays homage to Bach by using the notes B-A-C-H as its main theme.

It exploits a wide range from low to high registers and demands virtuosic performance with dense chords and arpeggios.

There are both organ and piano versions, each deeply satisfying to hear.

Why not surrender yourself to the overwhelming waves of sound reverberating through a church or concert hall? It’s a piece that lets you fully savor the allure of classical music.

Fantasia and Fugue on the Name B-A-C-H, S.260/S.529Franz Liszt55rank/position

Hamelin plays Liszt Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H Part 1 of 2

A work originally composed as an organ piece and later arranged for piano.

Liszt was deeply familiar with Bach’s music, and Bach’s themes are employed effectively in this piece as well.

Rapidly ascending and descending arpeggios and a stormily raging bass make a striking impression.

Grandes études de Paganini, S.121, No. 3 “La Campanella”Franz Liszt56rank/position

Fuzjko Hemming – La Campanella (2015)

Among the set of études by Franz Liszt—dubbed the “magician of the piano”—the Grandes études de Paganini, S.121, No.

3, “La Campanella,” stands out as especially famous and popular.

Its difficulty and artistry are so extraordinary that one can’t help but ask, “Wait, this is an étude?”—and it’s fair to say many people don’t really think of it as one.

Although Liszt composed numerous works of transcendental virtuosity, this piece is an arrangement for piano of a violin work by Niccolò Paganini.

Paganini, the prodigy whose playing was so astonishing he was said to have “sold his soul to the devil,” and Liszt, the magician—no wonder the result is a parade of transcendental technique.

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Housui Sachiyo

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