Franz Liszt: © lisztomania

Although Liszt left his birthplace, Raiding, by the time he was eleven years old to study piano in Vienna, this small town in central Burgenland celebrates its famous son in 2011. But Franz Liszt is honored not only on the occasion of his 200th birthday: since the opening of the Liszt Centre in 2006 an annual concert series featuring world-renowned artists has paid tribute to the composer. The small picturesque town has now become a meeting place for top-flight artists and music lovers from all over the globe.

Lisztomania is the motto for all events during the Liszt Year. This, however, is not a pun created by the organizers: this term was coined by the German writer Heinrich Heine in the nineteenth century to describe the storms of enthusiasm that Liszt elicited from his female fans. As soon as the artist took the stage he was greeted by choruses of hysterical shrieking from the ladies of the audience. As a consequence, Liszt sometimes performed in concert halls where the audience was limited to standing room only.

The anniversary program is arranged in line with the four seasons and spotlights the broad spectrum of the composer’s works.

27th - 30th January 2011
The first concert series celebrates Liszt “The European” and will be opened by the piano duo of Johannes and Eduard Kutrowatz. Other highlights include a piano recital by the world-famous Georgian pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja on 28th January and a matinee concert the following day featuring Ildiko Raimondi, an ensemble member of the Vienna State Opera, singing a selection of lieder. Liszt’s imposing orchestral works will be showcased on 30th January by the Wiener Akademie, under the direction of Martin Haselböck.

17th - 20th March 2011
The four days between the 17th and 20th of March will see two piano recitals, a lied recital, and an orchestral concert. The pianist Ivo Pogorelich, known for his unorthodox interpretations, appears on 17th March, and on 18th March the soprano Ruth Ziesak sings a program of songs by Liszt, Haydn, and Mahler.

12th - 19th June 2011
The third season of the © lisztomania extends over a period of two weeks and is the most diverse in terms of content. The series begins on 12th June, Whit Sunday, with a performance of Liszt’s “Missa Choralis” by the Wiener Kammerchor in the parish church of Raiding. Admission to the concert and mass is free. The series, called “Grenzgänge I – IV”, continues until 19th June with various events, including a piano recital by the duo Johannes and Eduard Kutrowatz, with works by Liszt, Shostakovich, and Gershwin.

11th - 21st October 2011
The fourth © lisztomania season begins in October 2011. A recital by baritone Adrian Eröd on 20th October presents lieder by Franz Liszt as well as songs by Richard Wagner and the singer’s father, Ivan Eröd. On 21st October the spotlight is on the association between the musical titans Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner: in his “musical and biographical description of a stellar friendship”, pianist and moderator Stefan Mickisch looks at the extraordinary relationship between the two celebrated composers.

Liszt’s 200th birthday, on 22nd October, will be marked by a very special event: a recital by the celebrated pianist Daniel Barenboim featuring a selection of Liszt piano works. After a matinee orchestral concert on 23rd October, the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s baptism will be commemorated by a memorial concert in the parish church of Unterfrauenhaid, where the composer was baptized.

In addition to the musical performances, a variety of exhibitions will offer insights into the wide-ranging activities of Franz Liszt. At no fewer than six venues in Eisenstadt and in Raiding, the life and work of the piano virtuoso, composer, and conductor will be explored. A particular highlight is the exhibition event “Vivat Liszt!”, in which artists focus on the relationship between music and the fine arts, as exemplified in the works of Franz Liszt.

For further information on Lisztomania, please visit: www.lisztomania.at