Franz Liszt
A virtuoso pianist and pioneer of the symphonic poem, Franz Liszt established
himself as one of the most innovative of the Romantic composers, whose
turbulent, romantic life led him from idol to abbot. The son of a servant and
cellist at the court of Prince Estherázy, Ferenc (Franz) Liszt was born in
Raiding (Dobordján), in the Kingdom of Hungary, on October 22, 1811. Exposed to
music from an early age, he began learning to play the piano at the age of five,
and showed an early talent for improvising and playing his first pieces.
Inspired by church music and the gypsy tunes of it...
