This Hungarian musician, who lived from 1811 to 1886, was a romantic composer and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. During his lifetime he was considered a public idol. His most famous works include his 20 Hungarian Rhapsodies. Who was he?

The 19th century saw the rise of its own version of a rock star, and his name was Franz Liszt (1811-1886). This Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso possessed such extraordinary technical skill and charismatic stage presence that he inspired a phenomenon known as "Lisztomania." During his concerts, audiences would erupt into a frenzy, with fans fainting, fighting over his handkerchiefs, and wearing his portrait on brooches. His fame as a performer was unparalleled, cementing his reputation as perhaps the greatest pianist in history and a true public idol of the Romantic era.

Beyond his celebrity status, Liszt was a revolutionary composer. His 20 Hungarian Rhapsodies, some of his most famous works, drew heavily on the Roma (gypsy) folk music he heard in his youth, bringing a fiery, nationalistic spirit to the concert hall. He was also a great innovator, pioneering the symphonic poem, a form of orchestral music that tells a story or illustrates a literary idea. Furthermore, Liszt is credited with inventing the solo piano recital as we know it today, turning the performer to face the audience and performing an entire program from memory, a standard practice that he established.