Merry Liszt-mas!

When you tune in to WPRB this morning, don’t be surprised to find the bulk of the programming devoted to the music of Franz Liszt. Liszt, who had a diabolical reputation both as a pianist and as a ladies’ man, was also quite devout. In fact, he eventually took minor orders and lived in a monastic cell in Rome, where he was known as the Abbé Liszt.

We’ll be listening to his three-hour oratorio/symphonic poem, “Christus,” celebrating the life and legacy of Christ. However, Liszt being Liszt, there are times when he wholly dispenses with the frankincense and myrrh and piles on the tragic heroism. The “March of the Three Holy Kings” which concludes Part I sounds like it could have been lifted by Richard Wagner (and it may have been) for use in his “Ring” cycle. The music was written contemporaneously with Wagner’s “Das Rheingold.”

As time allows, we’ll also enjoy Liszt’s “Christmas Tree Suite.” Liszt dedicated the work to his granddaughter, Daniela von Bülow, the daughter of Cosima Liszt and conductor Hans von Bülow. Some of the early movements are reflections on familiar carols, but as the suite progresses, the movements become dreamier and more introspective. The work was first performed on Christmas Day in 1881, the day Daniela’s birthday was always observed, though she was actually born on Christmas Eve.

“Christus” begins at 7:00 EST. With luck, the “Christmas Tree Suite” will begin at 10:25. Join me at 6:00 for a bit of musical tailgating and some more selections for Christmas.

Liszt-en all morning, in fact, from 6 to 11:00 on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. They call me the Abbé Normal, on Classic Ross Amico.