Description
Franz Liszt - Grande fantaisie sur des motifs de Niobe, S419
Performer: Steven Mayer
The famous duel between Liszt and Thalberg, or "Rome" and "Carthage," has spawned legendary anecdotes and quotations about the two pianist-composers. Not all of it is true, and the famous Liszt biographer, Alan Walker, sheds light on the truth of the matter: "There is nothing here to suggest that Liszt saw in Thalberg a rival. Least of all did he 'rush back to Paris, nostrils dilated, to defend his crown,' as one modern journalist has put it." But when Liszt's mistress, Marie d'Agoult, used his name to write disparaging remarks about Thalberg's music, a war of the press began, sides were drawn, and a "battle" between the two pianists was inevitable. Thalberg and Liszt performed their own recitals in Paris, both taking advantage of the Parisian fervor, and eventually this culminated in a musical duel under Princess Belgiojoso's roof: Thalberg played first, giving another performance of his Moses Fantasy, then Liszt appeared and played his Niobe fantasy. Thanks to the critic Jules Janin, a detailed description of this historic encounter was preserved in the Journal des Débats: "Never was Liszt more controlled, more thoughtful, more energetic, more passionate; never has Thalberg played with greater verve and tenderness. Each of them prudently stayed within his harmonic domain, but each used every one of his resources. It was an admirable joust. The most profound silence fell over that noble arena. And finally Liszt and Thalberg were both proclaimed victors by this glittering and intelligent assembly…Thus two victors and no vanquished…"