The trajectory of Franz Liszt resembles that of a hero from an epic tale that his friend Victor Hugo could have narrated. Both men embraced their century as much as they were enveloped by it.
After early beginnings as a child prodigy in the Vienna of Schubert and Beethoven, young Liszt became in Paris the greatest piano virtuoso and, at the same time, one of the first stars in the contemporary sense of the term, combining success and scandal, celebrity, tumultuous loves, and incredible friendships. After an international tour of nearly 8 years, he changed his life and transformed into a conductor, theatre director, promoter of the avant-garde, and composer of great symphonic works. He simultaneously developed a profoundly original aesthetic thought on music.
Finally, propelled by his deep Catholic faith, he drew closer to the Pope, received minor orders, and composed masterpieces for the organ and religious music. Not forgetting to be a beloved professor recognized by his numerous students for his unwavering generosity. These are the main facets of this exceptional man, whom chance has made a genius, whose portrait we will paint in words, images, and music during this conference.
Hugo Rodriguez is the curator of the library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He has previously worked at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) and the Museum of Musical Instruments (MIM). He holds a doctorate in musicology from the Université libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches, and is the author of a PhD on the question of meaning in music, viewed from the perspective of history, philosophy and cognitive science. He is also conducting research into comedy in music and Belgian musical life. He was one of the curators of the exhibition Toots 100: The Sound of a Belgian Legend and has co-organised other projects (symposiums, conferences, concerts and publications) to mark the centenary of the birth of Toots Thielemans.