Franz Liszt: A Genius on the Streets of Beyoğlu
The 19th century Romantic era's leading composer and pianist Franz Liszt left his mark not only on the European music scene, but also in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Franz Liszt set foot on Ottoman soil in 1847. The artist had reached a large fan base by giving concerts in the great palaces of Europe and had become famous as a piano virtuoso. His arrival in Istanbul was also a musical meeting. Liszt's visit was greeted with great excitement at a time when the Ottoman Empire attached importance to cultural interactions in order to strengthen relations with the West.
Liszt was interested in Eastern culture and was especially curious about Istanbul. Gaetano Donizetti, the famous Italian opera composer, told him that his brother Guiseppe Donizetti was in charge of the Ottoman palace and that he could help him to go to Istanbul and wrote a letter to his brother and explained the situation. Considering that Guiseppe Donizetti had founded the Ottoman Musika-ı Hümayunu (Ottoman Military Band) and had the title of Pasha, this letter was quite a remarkable letter. Shortly after the letter was written, Franz Liszt arrived in Istanbul on 8 June 1847 and appeared before Sultan Abdülmecid on the same day. He gave concerts 2 evenings in a row at Çırağan Palace.
Liszt, who fascinated the Ottoman aristocracy, was highly appreciated by the palace subjects of the period, especially with his performances at Dolmabahçe Palace. Sultan Abdülmecid also showed his admiration for Liszt and honoured the artist with a decoration.
Of course, Istanbul, a city of mesmerising inspiration, also left traces in Liszt's music. Liszt was inspired by the exotic atmosphere of the East, the cultural diversity of the city and the rituals of the Islamic world. The traditional modes and rhythms of Ottoman music were extremely interesting for a western composer. These influences also manifested themselves in some of Liszt's later compositions. Orientalism had once again succeeded in capturing the heart of a European in Istanbul, the capital of the world.
One of Franz Liszt's most memorable moments was his concerts at the Dolmabahçe Palace. Dolmabahçe was one of the most prominent symbols of the westernisation efforts of the Ottoman Empire at that time. The notes pouring from Liszt's piano in this magnificent palace represented both the richness of Western music and the cultural expansion of the Ottoman Empire. During the concert, Sultan Abdülmecid and the Ottoman court subjects had the opportunity to closely observe Liszt's deep connection with music and his extraordinary talent.
After Franz Liszt became popular and famous in Istanbul, he lived in Beyoğlu for a month in house number 19 on Poland Street (today Nur-u Ziya Street). This building was an elegant and decent apartment building belonging to the Commendiger family, the world-famous piano manufacturer and the supplier of musical instruments and notes to the palace. However, later on, after a fire broke out on Poland Street, the whole street was destroyed and building number 19 was burnt down. Building 19 was later rebuilt, but it still did not regain the aesthetics it had before the fire. Building No. 19 is a building that defies history, bearing only the stories of the compositions and the memory of Franz Liszt.
There is still a sign on the building stating that Franz Liszt stayed here during his stay in Istanbul. Do not neglect to pass through the street of this inspiring story during your visit to Istanbul. Maybe there are still notes, compositions and inspirations waiting for the storyteller in apartment number 19. Who knows?