Rare works portraying Franz Liszt have been donated to the Liszt Museum
A life-size bust and a photograph of Franz Liszt, made shortly before his death on his last trip to England in April 1886, have been added to the institution's collection, and were presented at the opening of this year's Liszt Birthday Festival. For many years now, the Liszt Birthday Festival has become a tradition organised by the Liszt Academy and the Liszt Museum to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt.
As part of the long-standing tradition of the Liszt Birthday Festival at the Liszt Academy and Liszt Museum, the Old Academy hosts piano concerts by young talents and a book launch, while the Grand Hall of the Academy hosts the traditional concert of the orchestra on 22 October. For many years now, the Liszt Birthday Festival has become a tradition organised by the Liszt Academy and the Liszt Museum to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Csaba Kutnyánszky, Vice-President of the Liszt Academy, gave a welcome speech, Dr. Zsuzsanna Domokos, Director of the Liszt Museum, presented the two works, thanking the ministries involved in the donation and the management of the Liszt Academy, as well as the donor, the renowned British pianist Malcolm Binns. The artist was able to join in online from his home, telling the story of how the objects came to be in his posession and thanking the museum for providing a right place for the objects.
The Liszt bust on display was created by Edgar Boehm, a renowned 19th century artist of Hungarian origin, born in Vienna and eventually settled in England, as evidenced by the engraving on the back and the diary of Queen Victoria, as Liszt performed for the Queen at Windsor Castle on his visit in April 1886. The outfit he has wears ont he life-size statue is also feature ont he portrait photograph taken ont he same trip. The photo was also donated to the Liszt Museum by Malcolm Binns, which is a rarity as well, as no other copy is known to exist.
Born in 1936, Malcolm Binns studied at the Royal College of Music in London, made his debut at Wigmore Hall in 1958, and from 1960 performed regularly in London as a pianist before becoming a lecturer at the Royal College of Music. He was regarded as an outstanding performer in the English piano repertoire, and gave concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra every year from 1962. He premiered Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 4 in England and was the first to record Beethoven's piano sonatas on original instruments.
