Liszt's Steinway testimonial
Franz Liszt 1887
Time for some beauty. What a nice-looking old dude Liszt was and pretty self-effacing too if this testimonial to Steinway about their grand-pianos is anything to go by. There was a fun romp-of-a-film made back in the 1990s by James Lapine called ‘Impromptu’ about the wonderfully bohemian lives of 19th century superstars Frederic Chopin, George Sands, Franz Liszt, Alfred deMusset and the gang. It stars the great Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Julian Sands (as Liszt), Mandy Patimkin & Bernadette Peters. I’m including a link to a youtube video of Vladimir Horowitz playing Liszt’s ‘Consolation No.3′ (House of Chanel take note!) It’s guaranteed to take you back in time. Schlocky, romantic, just what you’d expect from the hoop ‘n bustle chaser Liszt was purported to have been. Check out Vlad’s world-weary fingers and the Steinway insignia here you go. Liszt was Hungarian and properly speaking his name was Ferenc Liszt (‘Ferenci & Janika’ obscure old Magyar blues about come-zither eyes in Pest.)
Link to trailer ‘Of Time of the City’ Terence Davies’ personal documentary of growing up, poor, catholic and queer in Liverpool and that’s only part of it. Come closer now.. Consolation No. 3 by Liszt.
October 22, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Until now, I never had much use for the word heretofore except when confronted with a two dozen.
You piqued my curiosity and I ended up listening to quite a few renditions (not the current paramilitary use of the word) of the fragrance. Fascinating how one can easily a.b.c.d.etc various versions on youtube. What a whirled. I was intrigued by Emil Von Sauer’s (studied a bit with Liszt) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdt04xPdm8g maybe its just the itchy and scratchiness of the recording but for whatever reasons.
October 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I am lisztening to Bill Frawley as I type this. Good to see you tetes aux oeufs gettin’ away from the imment end of our ability to pay for this digital 10 finger exercise. YIKES !!!
October 23, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Von Sauer’s hi-rev version certainly is ‘revolutionary’ in that one can hear every revolution of the recording on the gramaphone. One might even go so far as to call it groovy.
October 23, 2008 at 1:18 pm
mea culpa. that pic of liszt is from 1883 not 1887. like there’s a difference.
October 23, 2008 at 2:15 pm
sa manque de dents ne déguise pas le fait qu’il a un beau visage
October 23, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Ah may the sounds of time never run out.
October 23, 2008 at 5:52 pm
What about Rajah Doll tree ? He’s on my list as the best list since Sonny Liszton
April 8, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Consolation No.3 by F. Liszt is used a lot in the soundtrack for Terence Davies great film on Liverpool ‘Of Time and the City.’ Go see it. It was playing at the Cinema de Parc last week.