Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Transcription

Compose Date

:

1867

Publication Date

:

1868

Average_duration

:

7:07

Franz Liszt's "Isoldens Liebestod: Schlußszene aus Tristan und Isolde (after Wagner), S. 447" is a piano transcription of the final scene from Richard Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde." Liszt composed this piece in 1865, and it premiered the same year in Weimar, Germany. The piece is divided into two main sections, with the first section being a transcription of the prelude to the final scene of the opera. The second section is a transcription of Isolde's final aria, "Mild und leise," also known as "Liebestod" or "Love-Death." Liszt's transcription of the prelude is faithful to Wagner's original score, with the piano imitating the orchestral textures and harmonies. The opening chords of the prelude are played with great intensity, setting the stage for the emotional climax of the piece. The second section of the piece, the transcription of "Liebestod," is where Liszt's virtuosity as a pianist shines through. The piece begins with a simple melody played in the right hand, accompanied by arpeggios in the left hand. As the melody builds in intensity, Liszt adds more and more layers of complexity to the accompaniment, creating a rich and lush texture. The climax of the piece comes with the final phrase of the aria, where Isolde sings "In des Welt-Atems wehendem All" ("In the world-breath's all-encompassing embrace"). Liszt's transcription captures the emotional intensity of this moment, with the piano soaring to its highest register and then gradually fading away into silence. Overall, "Isoldens Liebestod" is a stunning example of Liszt's skill as a pianist and his ability to capture the emotional depth of Wagner's music. The piece is a testament to the enduring power of Wagner's opera and Liszt's enduring legacy as a composer and pianist.

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