DEATH OF LISZT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1542, 7 August 1886, Page 3

DEATH OF LISZT.

The death was announced in last Tuesday V issue of the Abbe Frans Liszt, the celebrated Hungarian pianist, aged seventy-five years. The late abbe was probably the meet marvellous performer on the pianoforte who ever lived. He recently revisited England and was received in the musiaal and fashionable world with the greatest enthusiasm, "Men of the Time,” states the abbe wail born' atSiiegizard, in Hungary, October 29nd, 1811, -made kit first public appearance in a concert, in bit ninth year, and wbi afterwards placed under Czerny, Salieri giving him lessons in harmony. After eighteen months of zssloua study, be played in a concert with success, and was taken to Paris, where ha performed before the Duke ef Orleans, and soon became a great favorite in that capital. In 1825 an opera of his was produced, but did not attract Having made several successful tours through Francs and England, he in 1825 produced •n opsra, ";Don Sanche, ou lo Chateau des Amours," which did not command success. He at last heard Paganini, and resolved he would become the Paganini of the pianoforte* His composition are chiefly valuable for having contributed te raise the art of piano playing to height of brilliancy before unattained, whilst hit own creative powers on that instrument are so marvellous as to place him in the highest rank of great performers. He was promoted Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1861. Although in June, 1864 h - wrote a letter contradicting the report that he had entered a convent, he took orders and received the tonsure, April 26th, 1866, from his friend, Mgr. de Hohenlohe, in the chapel of the Tatioan. After that period be chiefly devoted his attention to religions music, and has organised numerous conceits and musical entertainments, the proceeds of which were devoted to works of Catholic charity. At the close of the year sB7l he remoyed from Borne, and returned to his native country, which generously granted him a pension of £6OO a year,, with a nobiliary title. He was named Director of the Hungarian Academy of Mnsio in April, 1875. One of his two daughters married Biohard Wagner, the composer.