Franz (sometimes Ferenc) Liszt, (1811-1886), was a virtuoso pianist and composer, born in Raiding, Hungary.
He studied and played at Vienna and Paris and for most of his life, toured throughout Europe giving concerts. From 1835 to 1839 he lived with the Comtesse d'Agoult who bore him three children. In 1847 he met Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and he lived with her until his death. In 1848, he went to Weimar, where he directed the opera and concerts, composed and taught. His works include 12 symphonic poems, Masses, two piano concertos and a large number of piano pieces. Some of his pieces are very popular among the general public even today, his Hungarian rhapsody for instance.