Liszt's piano transcriptions of Schubert's songs brought the deceased composer his largest audiences ever during the 'Lisztomania' years of the 1830s-40s.
Performer Biography
Gabriele Baldocci, the pianist on this recording, is an official Ambassador of the Martha Argerich Presents Project and frequently performs in duo with Martha Argerich.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Liszt believed that the piano, with its expanded harmonic power, could encompass the entire orchestral repertoire, with its only disadvantage being the lack of timbral variety.
Composition History
Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, the 'Eroica', was originally intended to be dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, but Beethoven rescinded the dedication when Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
Compositional Technique
The 'Eroica' Symphony's finale uses a theme Beethoven had previously used in his ballet 'The Creatures of Prometheus' and his 'Eroica' Variations for piano.
Composer Biography
Franz Liszt, a child prodigy pianist, met Beethoven at around age 11, with Beethoven reportedly praising him and predicting he would bring 'happiness and joy to many other people'.
Composer Biography
Beethoven, at age 31, considered suicide due to his deteriorating hearing, as revealed in his 'Heiligenstadt Testament' found after his death.
