Franz Liszt

Franz (sometimes Ferenc) Liszt, (October 22, 1811 - July 31, 1886), was a virtuoso pianist and composer, born in Raiding, Hungary.

He studied and played at Vienna and Paris and for most of his life, toured throughout Europe giving concerts.

From 1835 to 1839 he lived with Marie Catherine Sophie de Flavigny, wife of the Comte d'Agoult. She is better known by her pen name, "Daniel Stern". They had two daughters and one son: the younger daughter, Cosima, married Richard Wagner.

In 1847 Liszt met Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and he lived with her until his death.

In 1848, he went to Weimar, where he directed the opera and concerts, composed and taught. His works include 12 symphonic poems, Masses, two piano concertos and a large number of piano pieces. Some of his pieces are very popular among the general public even today, his Hungarian rhapsody for instance.