A European in Weimar
On the occasion of the composer’s 200th birthday, Weimar invites you to visit the 2011 state exhibition.
The exhibition focuses on the European dimensions of the personality, the composer and the interpreter as well as the artistic projects realised in Weimar.
And because I showed myself as I was: an enthusiastic child, a firm believer, in a word everything one is when one is 18 […], because I did not know how to play comedy, I gained the reputation — of being an actor.
Liszt, Reisebriefe eines Baccalaureus der Tonkunst (Travelogues by a Baccalaureate of Musical Art), 1837
The first part of the exhibition in the Schiller Museum follows the stages of Liszt’s life from the multicultural climate of the Habsburg monarchy via Paris, Switzerland, Italy and the virtuoso tours to Weimar, where most of his major compositions were written over a period of little more than ten years. These stages are presented in the form of a pilgrimage with Weimar as the destina- tion and climax. The exhibition documents not only Liszt’s work and compositions, but also his significance in Europe’s history of music and thought.
Liszt knows no rules, no form, no regulations, he makes them all himself! The bizarre becomes brilliant, the alienatory a condition for living.
M. G. Saphir about Liszt, 1838
As a pianist, Liszt’s concert tours in the late 1830s and early 1840s took him all over Europe – from Paris to Constantinople, from Milan to St. Petersburg. He came to Weimar quite early, where he was appointed the court’s music director extraordinaire in 1842. In Berlin, Liszt triggered an unparalleled “Lisztomania”, the effects of which inspired Ken Russell to make his film of that name. Half Europe lay at Liszt’s feet. He was the idol of an entire generation. The public engaged in a lively trade in devotional objects ranging from medals to alabaster busts, from Liszt portraits to album leaves.
The exhibition displays precious autographs from the world’s largest Liszt collection held by the Goethe and Schiller Archive alongside Lisztiana from the collections in the Duchess Anna Ama- lia Library and the museums of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. The range of exhibits, supplemented by items borrowed from Germany and abroad, covers items personally used by Liszt, contemporary paintings and drawings, artworks, concert programmes and first editions of his works.
We had never heard anything like it in our lives, never such a passionate, brilliant and demonic temperament, one minute lashing like a whirlwind, the next flowing in cascades of beauty and grace. Liszt’s playing was absolutely overwhelming […]
W. Stasov, about a concert in St. Petersburg, 1842
The second part of the exhibition in the Palace Museum is titled Piano Cosmos and traces the technical development, tonal aesthetics and cultural history of the piano in Liszt’s era. It deals with the role of piano music in 19th century salons and concert halls, the inter- dependence of piano making and compositional techniques, and the instrument’s significance for the educational ideals of that time. The Weimar instruments restored with the support of the Federal Cultural Foundation will be seen and heard for the first time in this context.
The exhibition focuses on the models by piano makers Graf (Vienna), Streicher (Vienna) and Erard (Paris/London), all played by the composer himself. One key feature is the especially recon- structed grand piano by the Marseille piano makers Boisselot & fils; Liszt used it not only for composing but also as a travelling piano.
Another highlight is the overzized walk-through grand piano in the palace courtyard. Inside the grand piano, visitors can hear and feel the vibrations produced when various strings are struck from the outside. This direct physical and tonal experience will open up the topic of the exhibition to children in particular.
We also recommend a visit to Altenburg, Liszt’s home in Weimar from 1849 to 1861, and to Liszt’s Home, used by Liszt as a summer residence between 1869 and 1886.
Believe me that I am not chasing after orders, or praise, or awards, or newspaper articles […] My sole ambition as a musician was and always will be to cast a spear into the infinite space of the future.
Liszt to Carolyne von Sayn-Wittgenstein, 1874
Piano Cosmos
The world of sound created by the piano in the 19th century is incredibly varied. Every piano maker has his own idea of the perfect tone. And the views of the great composers and interpreters on the sound of the piano differ greatly.
The instruments belonging to the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, the Beetz collection and the Greifenberger Institute are displayed in the Palace Museum and invite visitors to make a unique tour of discovery: The Piano Cosmos becomes a living organism. Selected instruments are presented and played with reference to the piano maker’s craft of that time. Along with regular presen- tations by students of The Liszt School of Music Weimar, Liszt’s anniversary year 2011 will be marked by many other concerts: www.liszt-2011.de
Franz Liszt — A European in Weimar
Schiller Museum & Palace Museum Weimar
Tues–Sun 10 am–6 pm adults 8€ / reduced 6€ / pupils 3€
Free entrance for children and young people under 16 years of age and holders of the ThüringenCard
Cultural Programme
Fri & Sat 3 pm, Sun 1 pm | Tour of Palace Museum with music (German)
On request | Guided Tours in English through Schiller-Museum,
Palace Museum Weimar and Liszt’s Home
Fri 2–6 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm, Sun 10 am–2 pm | Events for children and
families in the palace courtyard
Individual | Tours with audio guide in English and German
Kultur-Ticket-Spezial (culture ticket special)
Travel with the Deutsche Bahn “Kultur-Ticket-Spezial” (culture ticket special) for only 39€ (2nd class) and 59€ (1st class) per person to the exhibition and back in one day. Information at www.bahn.de/kultur
Combi ticket for State Exhibition & Liszt’s Home
adults 10€ / reduced 7€ / pupils 3,50€
Holders of the Liszt combi ticket can pay one visit each to the exhibitions in the Schiller and Palace Museum and to Liszt’s Home.
Liszt’s Home with permanent exhibition and living areas Tues–Sun 10am–6pm (single or combi ticket)
Altenburg with exhibition about the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein* Tues–Sun 1–3pm (admission free)
(*General German Music Society)
Visitor Information
Tel +49 (0) 36 43 | 545-400
Fax +49 (0) 36 43 | 41 98 16
info@klassik-stiftung.de
