Franz Liszt: The virtuoso years, 1811-1847

Alan Walker

Cornell University Press, 1987 - Biography & Autobiography - 512 pages

The third volume in Alan Walker's magisterial biography of Franz Liszt.

"You can't help but keep turning the pages, wondering how it will all turn out: and Walker's accumulated readings of Liszt's music have to be taken seriously indeed."--D. Kern Holoman, New York Review of Books

"A conscientious scholar passionate about his subject. Mr. Walker makes the man and his age come to life. These three volumes will be the definitive work to which all subsequent Liszt biographies will aspire."--Harold C. Schonberg, Wall Street Journal

"What distinguishes Walker from Liszt's dozens of earlier biographers is that he is equally strong on the music and the life. A formidable musicologist with a lively polemical style, he discusses the composer's works with greater understanding and clarity than any previous biographer. And whereas many have recycled the same erroneous, often damaging information, Walker has relied on his own prodigious, globe-trotting research, a project spanning twenty-five years. The result is a textured portrait of Liszt and his times without rival."--Elliot Ravetz, Time

"The prose is so lively that the reader is often swept along by the narrative.... This three-part work... is now the definitive work on Liszt in English and belongs in all music collections."--Library Journal

What people are saying

User Review -

tetste

User Review -

Mr. Walker's impressive scholarship is stained by the extreme lengths he goes to try to cast Liszt in a favorable light. It is a hyper-passionate defense of Liszt from those who would detract from his genius and quality of character.

Contents

• Liszt and the Literature: 3
• 3: 30
• THE YOUNG PRODIGY 18111829: 51
• The Death of Liszts Father: 123
• Obscurity in Paris: 129
• After the July Revolution: 143
• works: 159
• Paganini: 168
• Berlioz and Chopin: 178
• Enter Marie dAgoult: 190
• Thalbergs origins his playing: 232
• Switzerland and Italy: 244
• The modern piano recital is created: 285
• A Prodigal Returns to Hungary 18391840: 319
• city of Oedenburg: 333
• Berlin and St Petersburg 18411842: 369
• Nélida versus Guermann: 382
• The Beethoven Monument Unveiled in Bonn 1845: 417
• Transylvania Russia and Turkey 18461847: 435
• Catalogue of works which Liszt played in public: 445

About the author

Alan Walker is Professor of Music at McMaster University. He was awarded the Commemorative Plaque of the Budapest Liszt Society for his contributions to Liszt scholarship.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Franz Liszt: The virtuoso years, 1811-1847; Cornell paperbacks; Volume 1 of Franz Liszt, Alan Walker, ISBN 0801497213, 9780801497216; Franz Liszt: The Virtuoso Years - 1811-1847, Alan Walker
• Author: Alan Walker
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, revised
• Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1987
• ISBN: 0801494214, 9780801494215
• Length: 512 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Music; Performing Arts / General