Analysis on Franz Lizst

Alex Ross starts the article with the death of Franz Liszt, by comparing it with the death of two other composers. In these two cases, the causes of deaths were mysterious. However, Liszt’s death was not mysterious at all. He died from a heart attack at old age, 74, a common death. But then, Ross pointed out that the place where Liszt died is ‘mysterious’, and he quoted, ‘Not the place where he would have preferred to breathe his last.’ (Pg.104)

Liszt died at Bayreuth. Bayreuth is the home of Richard Wagner, who was Liszt’s son-in-law as well as a rival composer. In Bayreuth, Liszt thought he was not regarded as a great musician. Liszt ‘once complained, “To Bayreuth

I am not a composer but a publicity agent.”’(Pg.104) He also noticed ‘passages of his own scores ‘magically’ reappeared in “Tristan” and “Parsifal.”’ “Tristan” and “Parsifal” are two of Richard Wagner’s operas. His daughter, Cosima, was more devoted to her husband, Wagner, than her father, Liszt. When he fell ill in Bayreuth, he was bothered by the fact that ‘he was falling sick in Bayreuth, of all places- “right under the noses of those people.”’ (Pg.104)

Ross then leads readers to the aspect of Liszt’s religious life. Liszt was a very devoted Christian, “who practices to the hilt the principle of loving one’s neighbor as oneself.” (Pg.105) He gave free lessons to many pianists and he also donated large amount of money to a stranger simply because the stranger begged. He let his servants have the nicer room than his when staying in hotels.

Ross hinted in a couple of places that Liszt acted his faith in the same way- “His spirituality took the form of concret

Some topics in this essay:
Pg105 Ross, Pg105 Why, Pg105 Readers, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Stanislaus” According, Bayreuth Liszt, Liszt Ross, Richard Wagner’s, Stanislaus” Liszt, “last thoughts”, analysis liszt’s, liszt’s final, liszt died, music liszt, franz liszt, “saint stanislaus”, analysis liszt’s final, richard wagner,