Franz Liszt occupied a special place among the great pianists of the nineteenth century. The boundless virtuosity which he brought to his instrument made him not only a rock star in his time, it also enabled him as a composer to realize his musical vision without having to make any allowances for technical limitations. Thus, he became not only the creator of a new style but also a pathbreaker for new directions in music whose influence would last well into the 20th century. Many factors contributed to his multifaceted personality; therefore, it is not surprising that seemingly incompatible elements like despair and transfiguration, demonism and religious ecstasy often stand next to each other and create the kind of tension which is the hallmark of a great composer. The present program features a selection of the most virtuosic and radiant works of Franz Liszt.