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Donald Macleod explores Liszt’s rootlessness and nomadic nature.

Franz Liszt was the original musical heartthrob - the most photographed man of the 19th century, who left a legacy of more than 700 compositions and in the course of his career made well over 1000 concert appearances. With his electrifying talent at the keyboard, he transformed the status of musician from servant to demigod. But he was also a man of complex character, who wore many masks and repeatedly reinvented himself. All this week, Donald Macleod looks at 5 faces of Liszt, uncovering key slices of his soul and identity.

Today, Donald explores Liszt’s cosmopolitan lifestyle and his complicated national identity. Born in Hungary, but raised in France, he didn’t have a straightforward relationship with his heritage, and never settled in one place. He was a true European, who, in his later years, split his life between three countries. We hear how Liszt grappled with nationalism and rootlessness, and became a cultural chameleon, projecting different identities as suited him.

Consolation No 1 in E major, S172
Daniel Barenboim, piano

Kennst du das Land
Barbara Bonney, soprano
Antonio Pappano, piano

Rakoczy March (from Hungarian Rhapsody No 15)
Arcadi Volodos, piano

Songs:
Enfant, si j’etais roi
Im Rhein, im schoenen Strome
Isten Veled!
Andrew Kennedy, tenor
Iain Burnside, piano

Troisieme année de pèlerinage: Les jeux d’eau sur la villa d’Este
Bertrand Chamayou, piano

Wiegenlied
Khatia Buniatishvili, piano

Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 (orch. Doppler)
Vienna Philharmonic
Giuseppe Sinopoli, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio Wales and West