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A Polish saint. Historical-national themes in Franz Liszt’s oratorio ‘St Stanislaus’

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Golianek R. D.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology

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2014

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issue 13

79-90

PL

Saint Stanislaus, a Polish bishop murdered in 1079 by King Boleslaus the Bold, is the title character of Franz Liszt’s oratorio St Stanislaus. The libretto of St Stanislaus has several authors - the first author was the Cracow man of letters and folklore scholar Lucjan Siemieński, whom Liszt asked to write a text for his oratorio. The libretto, completed in 1869, was translated by Peter Cornelius, who made certain changes to the order of events. Not until 1874 did Liszt set about writing the music for his oratorio in earnest, and that was when he asked Cornelius to revise the libretto. The author’s premature death thwarted that intention, and so Liszt was forced to seek other authors. The version prepared several years later by Karl Erdmann Edler finally met the composer’s expectations. In its final version, the libretto comprises four scenes, which form a logical sequence of events and at the same time serve to emphasise Stanislaus’ spiritual strength and the causative power of his actions. Liszt did riot succeed in setting the whole text of the libretto; the extant material covers only scenes 1 and 4. The musical style of St Stanislaus indicates that the composer drew on various types of musical inspiration and technique. Hence the work is characterised by a certain heterogeneity - a synthetic character that encapsulates a nineteenth-century aesthetics. Nevertheless, the oratorio is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive manifestations of Liszt’s interest in Polish subjects. The presence of quotations from the Polish songs ‘Boże, coś Polskę’ and ‘Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła’ lends the work a distinct national colouring and evokes a mood of solemnity and religious contemplation, as well as the aura of triumph, victory and domination. Such an attitude may be symptomatic of the typically nineteenth-century perception of Poland as a tormented nation deprived of its statehood, which thanks to its valour and resilience will ultimately regain its independence.

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Gaetano Donizetti by Franz Liszt, the piano in the service of the opera

86%

Krzywoszyński P.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology

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2014

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issue 13

141-154

PL

The aim of the paper is to analyze Franz Liszt's piano interpretations that constitute excellent operatic transcriptions and reminiscences from the operas of Gaetano Donizetti. There are seven piano works based on six of Donizetti’s operas, among them bar-for-bar transcriptions of particular fragments as well as masterly syntheses of many musical themes. We try to argue that Donizetti was an inspiration for Liszt and that the Hungarian composer was not only an eminent connoisseur and admirer of bel canto, but also made an important contribution to the rediscovery of Italian opera. These transcriptions are an excellent example of a sincere tribute from one great composer to another; they highlight some of the treasures among Donizetti’s compositions, as well as the talent of the author of the transcriptions.

3

Between opera and the Lied - ‘Tre sonetti di Petrarca’ by Franz Liszt

86%

Wojtczak Z.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology

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2014

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issue 13

57-66

PL

Franz Liszt composed his songs in the time when Europe was at the peak of the development of the Romantic form - das Lied. However, it seems that not all of Liszt’s songs should be discussed from this perspective, pointing at least at significant influences of the 19th century Italian opera. The second version of a set of Tre sonetti di Petrarca reflects not only some changes in the composer’s technique or style, but above all, constitutes an evidence of certain tendencies in perceiving vocal technique and the development of Italian and European vocal aesthetics. It might be assumed that, even though the music construction of the second version of the Sonnets - particularly in the layer of melody of the vocal part - brings to mind the Italian operatic aria in its almost purest form, the deeply emotional musical interpretation of Petrarch’s most beautiful love lyrics seems to strongly derive from the already shaped German Romantic song. On the whole, the masterpiece is a bit eclectic, which in the light of Liszt’s reference to the past (belcanto form of an Italian aria, Renaissance lyrics) constitutes - as it could be called today - the author’s postmodern reinterpretation.

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3 Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology

1 Golianek R. D.

1 Krzywoszyński P.

1 Wojtczak Z.

3 2014

A Polish saint. Historical-national themes in Franz Liszt’s oratorio ‘St Stanislaus’

Gaetano Donizetti by Franz Liszt, the piano in the service of the opera

Between opera and the Lied - ‘Tre sonetti di Petrarca’ by Franz Liszt