My mind and fingers have worked like the damned. Homer, the Bible, Plato, Locke, Lamartine, Chateaubriand, Beethoven, Bach, Hummel, Mozart, Weber are all around me. I study them. I devour them with fury.
Franz LisztRead
For the virtuoso, musical works are in fact nothing but tragic and moving materializations of his emotions; he is called upon to make them speak, weep, sing and sigh, to recreate them in accordance with his own consciousness. In this way he, like the composer, is a creator, for he must have within himself those passions that he wishes to bring so intensely to life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A virtuoso transforms music into an expression of deep emotions, making the work come alive through personal experience.
This quote emphasizes the role of a virtuoso musician as not just a performer but also a creator who embodies the emotions of the composition. Franz Liszt suggests that true musical artistry lies in the ability of the musician to internalize and express the passions inherent in the music, allowing it to resonate deeply with audiences and evoke strong feelings.
Themes
MusicEmotionCreationArtistryVirtuosoPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the power of music in connecting with people during emotional times.
More from Franz Liszt
All quotes →It is my fervent wish and my greatest ambition to leave a work with a few useful instructions for the pianists after me.
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Music is the heart of life." She speaks love; "without it, there is no possible good and with it everything is beautiful.
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I conclude that the Wagnerian operas which are already in the repertoire, and other masterworks as well, stand in no further need of my services.
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Music is never stationary; successive forms and styles are only like so many resting-places - like tents pitched and taken down again on the road to the Ideal.
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A good Cuban cigar closes the doors to the vulgarities of the world.
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