Echoes of Liszt: The Changing Reception of His Paraphrases and Transcriptions from Premieres to Present

Abstract

In the nineteenth century, opera ruled the lyric stage, producing numerous popular melodies that resonated deeply with audiences. Pianists began to borrow materials from the operas they knew, and the opera-based fantasy for the piano became popular and dominated the concert stage for much of the 19th century. Among these performers, Franz Liszt stands out for having developed the opera-based piano piece to its fullest potential. The decline in popularity of Liszt’s music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be attributed to a confluence of aesthetic, cultural, and political factors. However, his music has undergone revivals in the later part of the 20th century, driven by both a renewed appreciation for Romanticism and recognition of Liszt’s important role in the evolution of Western music. This paper examines the changing reception of Liszt’s paraphrases and proposes effective strategies for curating lecture-recitals that illuminate the rich context and narrative insight of his compositions.