Franz Liszt

22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886

Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, and teacher of the Romantic era. Regarded as perhaps the greatest pianist of all time, he inspired the frenzy dubbed 'Lisztomania', invented the symphonic poem, and later served as Kapellmeister in Weimar and first president of the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Franz Liszt.

Life events

Born in Raiding, Kingdom of Hungary
22 October 1811

Liszt was born in the village of Raiding (Doborján), then in the Kingdom of Hungary, the son of an official in the service of the Esterházy family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Studied piano with Carl Czerny in Vienna
1822 – 1823

The Liszt family moved to Vienna, where the young prodigy studied piano with Carl Czerny and composition with Antonio Salieri.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved to Paris
1823

The Liszt family settled in Paris, which became the center of Liszt's early career as a performer and composer.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Began relationship with Countess Marie d'Agoult
1835 – 1844

Liszt began a long liaison with the Countess Marie d'Agoult, with whom he had three children, including Cosima, later the wife of Richard Wagner.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Toured Europe as a virtuoso during the era of 'Lisztomania'
1839 – 1847

Liszt undertook relentless concert tours across Europe, provoking the public frenzy that Heinrich Heine dubbed 'Lisztomania' in 1844.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became Kapellmeister at the Weimar court
1848 – 1861

Liszt settled in Weimar as court Kapellmeister, where he composed his symphonic poems, conducted premieres including Wagner's Lohengrin, and taught many pupils.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Received minor orders of the Catholic Church in Rome
25 April 1865

Liszt received the tonsure and four minor orders in Rome, after which he was known as Abbé Liszt and composed much religious music.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became first president of the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest
1875

Liszt helped found and served as the first president of the Hungarian Royal Academy of Music, dividing his later years among Rome, Weimar, and Budapest.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died in Bayreuth
31 July 1886

Liszt died of pneumonia in Bayreuth at age 74, while attending the festival founded by his son-in-law Richard Wagner.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓