Letter of Franz Liszt

This small collection contains one photocopy of a letter from Franz Liszt, the famous pianist.

Franz Liszt was born on 22 October 1811 in Hungary. He became a renowned composer and virtuoso pianist and a Franciscan tertiary in later life.

Liszt became famous across Europe for his exceptional ability as a pianist, and by the 1840s was considered by many to be the greatest pianist of all time. As well as a famous pianist, he was an influential composer, piano teacher and conductor and became the benefactor of several other famous composers including Richard Wagner, Alexander Borodin and Hector Berlioz.

Liszt was a prolific composer, leaving behind an extensive body of work, and was one of the most prominent representatives of the 'New German School' of music. He invented the symphonic poem and developed the concept of thematic transformation. Liszt was also central to the popularising of music by transcribing it for the piano.

He never married but had three children, including Cosima Liszt, who married Richard Wagner as her second husband. Liszt died on 31 July 1886.

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Donated by B. Wray, Hull, Jan 1975

Records of the Hull Philharmonic Society [C DSPH]

Hull Private Philharmonic Society [L DSPP]

Other repositories:

Liszt Archive Goppingen/Budapest