Rigoletto

Franz Liszt not only wrote a series of opera paraphrases during his virtuoso years, but also composed some in his Weimar years from 1848 onwards. He did not, however, write them for himself but for the pianist friend (who was also his son-in-law) Hans von Bülow. Amongst these works, the paraphrase on Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto”, which was published in 1860, occupies a special place on account of its incredible virtuosity and at the same time its filigree texture. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s birth, G. Henle Publishers is presenting a facsimile of the autograph of this work, with an extensive commentary, as well as an Urtext edition (HN 978). Since this is a working manuscript, the facsimile also offers fascinating insights into Liszt’s manner of working.