Universally considered the greatest piano virtuoso of all time,
Franz Liszt was born in Hungary. Liszt went to Vienna to become
a piano student of Carl Czerny and composition student of
Salieri. In 1823, Liszt settled in Paris and toured all over
Europe with the unprecedented triumphs. In 1844, Liszt began
composing, especially in the new form of the symphonic poem.
Liszt was a formidable teacher; he had more than a 100 students,
mostly in Weimar. In Hungary where he became a national hero,
Liszt was teaching and supervised the development of the
Budapest Conservatory. As a pianist, Liszt had no peer. As a
composer he opened a path to a younger generation.