Clutch - El Jefe Speaks

Turning the piano into an entire orchestra, compelling it to respond to the most subtle movements of the soul and freeing it from the stigma of a mechanical toy that can demonstrate only the dexterity of the fingers of “magicians from music” - these are the tasks that List then faced. True, it would be a big mistake to assert that he came to their understanding only thanks to the impression of the game of Paganini. Just as the ideas of program music originated in Liszt even before becoming acquainted with the work of Berlioz, the orchestral symphonic interpretation of his instrument was inherent in him, one might say, initially, was laid down in the individual characteristics of his performance. These two cornerstones — the programmability and versatility of the piano — became fundamental to all Liszt art.