Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Transcription

Compose Date

:

1854

Publication Date

:

1860

First Performance

:

Apr 17, 1859

Average_duration

:

8:24

Franz Liszt's "Miserere du Trovatore (after Verdi), S. 433" is a piano transcription of the famous chorus from Act IV of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Il Trovatore." Liszt composed the piece in 1860, and it was premiered in the same year in Weimar, Germany. The piece is divided into two movements. The first movement is a transcription of the chorus "Miserere" from Act IV of "Il Trovatore." The chorus is a prayer for mercy sung by the characters Leonora, Manrico, and the monks as they await their execution. Liszt's transcription captures the haunting and mournful quality of the original chorus, with its use of minor keys and slow, mournful melody. The second movement is a transcription of the cabaletta "Di quella pira" from the same act of the opera. This movement is much more lively and energetic than the first, with Liszt's transcription capturing the fiery and passionate nature of the original aria. The use of rapid arpeggios and virtuosic runs in the piano part adds to the excitement and drama of the piece. Overall, "Miserere du Trovatore" is a testament to Liszt's skill as a transcriber and his ability to capture the essence of an opera in a solo piano piece. The piece showcases both the mournful and passionate sides of Verdi's "Il Trovatore," and is a must-hear for fans of both Liszt and Verdi.

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