The Virtuoso LisztCambridge University Press, 2004 M09 9 - 280 pages The greatest virtuoso career in history - that of Franz Liszt - has been told in countless biographies. But what does that career look like when viewed from the perspective of European cultural history? In this study Dana Gooley examines the world of discussion, journalism, and controversy that surrounded the virtuoso Liszt, and reconstructs the multiple symbolic identities that he fulfilled for his enthusiastic audiences. Gooley's work is based on extensive research into contemporary periodicals - well-known and obscure journals and newspapers - as well as letters, memoirs, receipts and other documents that shed light on Liszt's concertising activities. Emphasising the virtuoso's contradictions, the author shows Liszt being constructed as a model aristocrat and a model bourgeois, as a German nationalist and a Hungarian nationalist, as a sensitive romantic artist and a military dictator, as a greedy entrepreneur and as a leading force for humanitarian charity. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
aesthetic Allgemeine anti-French Apponyi aristocrats artist Beethoven Belgiojoso Berlin Berlin episode Berlioz biography bourgeois bravura caricatures charity concert Cologne Cologne cathedral compositions contemporary Correspondance de Liszt cosmopolitan critics cultural dilettante elite enthusiasm Escudier example fantasy February Fétis figure France musicale Franz Liszt French Friedrich Wilhelm IV gazette musicale German German nationalism gesture Heinrich Heine hero Hungarian Hungarian nation Hungary Ibid identity January keyboard Konzertstück Leipzig liberal listener Liszt and Thalberg Liszt's audiences Liszt's concert Liszt's performance Liszt's playing Liszt's reception Liszt's virtuosity Liszt's visit Lisztomania Ludwig Rellstab Madame d'Agoult Magyar March Marie d'Agoult melody Ménestrel metaphor military monde Musik Napoleon narrative national movement opera orchestra Paris Parisian patriotic performing style pianist piano political Prussian public concerts Rellstab repertory reputation Revue et gazette Rhine Crisis romantic sabre sabre of honor salons Schober Schumann social songs sound symbolic tone Vienna Viennese virtuoso vocal Weber's Weimar writer wrote Zeitung