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Liszt is so criminally underestimated. He was one of the most innovative composers in history, meanwhile almost everyone remembers him as ,,funni hard piano composer"

Liszt's father for the WIN! To understand that moving to Vienna will be for the betterment of your son's talents and to pack up and leave to do just that takes tremendous dedication and fidelity to one's family future!

Liszt's work is some of the most versatile and inventive in the entire genre: Works as dynamic as Beethoven, as romantic as Chopin, as proto-impressionistic as you'd ever see in the era and borderline atonal stuff in his later works. His Fantasies & Reminiscences in particular absolutely push the boundaries of what can be done with transcription and reimagination of other composers works. The absolute pinnacle of pianism and my personal favourite composer

Liszt childhood encounter with Beethoven should have been mentioned since it was his most cherished memory as he only told it his closest confidants of the encounter. His admiration of Beethoven was such that Liszt funded statues and memorials of his hero across Europe and in the later part of his life transcribed Beethoven’s symphonies into piano. Not to mention Liszt’s joyous playing of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata.
Beethoven to the young Liszt: "Go! You are one of the fortunate ones! For you will give joy and happiness to many other people! There is nothing better or finer!".
This was, as we can imagine, a major event in Liszt's life since Beethoven was arguably the greatest musician alive at the time. He told this encounter "in a tone of deepest emotion, with tears in his eyes and a warm note of happiness", describes Ilka Horowitz-Barnay. Liszt was 64 years old when he shared this moment and ended up with this statement: "This event in my life has remained my greatest pride, the palladium of my whole career as an artist. I tell it but very seldom and only to good friends!".

00:20. That's Schumann, not Schubert

I feel like Lizst is underrated as a composer. a lot of people overlook him because he's mostly famous for his virtuosity

His grave is like a hundret meters away from my house and it feels kind of surreal. His music inspired me in so many ways. He was a real superstar.

I read an old biography about Liszt after I discovered him last year. I was shocked, I never heard anyone play the piano like Liszt did. I asked myself, is this even a piano anymore or is this just magic? After reading the biography, I fully understood how much of a genius he really was. I think he might be one of humanity’s greatest musicians

Consolation no. 3 remains one of the single most moving listening experiences I've ever had. It captures such a particular and hard to describe sense of melancholy and beauty that makes it uniquely special

The B Minor Sonata, Dante Sonata, Faust Symphony and Dante Symphony blew my 16 year old mind like no other music I’ve heard before or since! I will never get over the fact that an actual human being created those works! Long live that legend!

Liszt's long life, and the creativity of his later works, makes me all the more painfully curious of what Chopin or Schumann might have composed.

There's still a lot to mention, like his relationship with wagner or the schumanns, his piano sonata, his transcriptions, a bit more of dive in his harmony and a lot more.
We could use a second video, even though I doubt that can happen since that isn't the direction of the series, well, doesn't hurt to hope.

I never studied music but was exposed to classical by my dad.  He never played any Liszt, but I somehow found his music on my own.  He's  been my favorite composer ever since then.

I’m so happy you did Liszt. Need to spread more goodness for Liszt

It is said, that he sightread Grieg's piano concerto perfectly FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.

He is one of the greatest inspirations any pianist can get, not only musically, but as a person.
He still has the record for the biggest private donation in Hungary, when he raised an industrial amount of money to help people affected by an inundation.
Also, he was humble enough to financially support many of his contemporaries (especially Wagner), pushing forward the entire musical world and recognising the mastery of others.
He invented the recital as we know it today.
He was one of the first rockstars.
Man, he's such a great example to follow: a genius professional and a generous soul.

0:18-0:19 - CORRECTION - The audio incorrectly identifies a pic of Schumann as Schubert. ;-)

While there is plenty of useful information in this video regarding the life and works of Liszt and why it is worthwhile listening to his music, there are a few inaccuracies I believe are worth revisiting:
- Liszt never had bad press as a pianist, once he returned to playing the piano after a hiatus following his father's death, he was praised as either one of the finest pianists out there or the outright undisputed heavy-weight champion. By the time Heine coined "Lisztomania" he had been an international superstar for 6-7 years (and he was a star in France before then).
- His piano recitals were never devoted exclusively to virtuosic works - he would always program some Beethoven, Hummel, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann (sometimes even Bach and Scarlatti) in his concerts. He famously gave the first performance of the Hammerklavier in Paris in 1836 - after which Berlioz called him the musician of the future in his review.
- Liszt never got married, he tried really hard to marry Princess Sayn-Wittgenstein, but after years of promises to the contrary, the Vatican never granted the annulment of her previous marriage, so it fell through on their supposed-to-be wedding day.
- the Revolutionary Symphony was never completed, one movement-sketch was transformed and expanded to be the symphonic poem Heroide funébre.
- His departure from Weimar was not inspired by religion, though it did result in the creation of his most substantial religious works and him taking on a more religious image. He left Weimar because he felt his presence would hurt the prospects of the many young composers who were in his circle there. He received generally harsh reviews as a composer at the time (unlike his fortunes as a pianist), and he feared his protégés would be tainted by association.

One of my favorite composers.
Passionate, edgy, genius, & innovative.
Liszt inspired me to learn the piano...