Written in 1853 and first performed the following year in Weimar, Franz Liszt had originally intended the symphonic poem Festklänge to be played at his wedding. The wedding that never took place after the Vatican revoked its blessing. Liszt's intended bride, Carolyne zu Sayne-Wittgenstein, tried in vain to convince the Pope her previous marriage was invalid, but her request was denied.
'We heard Liszt. He cannot be compared to any other player [...] He arouses fear and astonishment. His appearance at the piano is indescribable - he is an original - totally involved with the piano... He sets no limits to his passion... He masters the piano like a demon. I was overwhelmed and sobbed aloud, it so shook me.' (Clara Schumann)
A film aesthete, writer and an important cultural figure in 20th century Hungary, Béla Balázs discovered the subject of Bluebeard in 1911 and was inspired to write the poetic mystery play Bluebeard's Castle. This then became the basis for Béla Bartók's opera of the same name.

Presented by: Zugló Philharmonic