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Donald Macleod explores Liszt’s midlife pivot towards his faith.

Franz Liszt was the original musical heartthrob - the most photographed man of the 19th century, who left a legacy of more than 700 compositions and in the course of his career made well over 1000 concert appearances. With his electrifying talent at the keyboard, he transformed the status of musician from servant to demigod. But he was also a man of complex character, who wore many masks and repeatedly reinvented himself. All this week, Donald Macleod looks at 5 faces of Liszt, uncovering key slices of his soul and identity.

Today, Donald reveals how a series of wake-up-calls forced Liszt to change his life direction. He exchanged his concert garb for a cassock and took minor liturgical orders, becoming an Abbé. We hear how he found new inspiration in texts and voices, and how he wrestled with his faith, morality and earthly desires.

Salve Regina
Collegium Vocale Gent
Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor

Dante Symphony (iii. Magnificat), S109
Women of the Berlin Rundfunk Chorus
Berlin Philharmonic
Daniel Barenboim, conductor

Les morts: Oraison
Glasgow Singers
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor

Legendes, S175: St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds
Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin
Gerd Albrecht, conductor

10 Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: Benediction de dieu dans la solitude (excerpt)
Claudio Arrau, piano

Christus, Part 3: Resurrexit
Franziska Hirzel, soprano
Birgit Remmert, alto
Donald Kaasch, tenor
Ralf Lukas, bass
Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
Beethoven Orchester Bonn
Roman Kofman, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Audio Wales and West