What an encore! Liebestraum No. 3 by Franz Liszt, played by Khatia Buniatishvili at the 2011 Verbier Festival.

The ‘Dream of Love’ that is Liebestraum No. 3 in Aflat major is not only the most recognizable work for solo piano by Franz Liszt (1811 1886), it’s also one of the most famous piano pieces of all time. Liszt published it in 1850, alongside two more such ‘love dreams’ (S. 541).

The basis for Liebestraum No. 3 was the earlier Lied ‘O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst’ (S. 298), which Liszt composed for solo voice and piano accompaniment in 1845. For the lyrics, Liszt reappropriated the first four verses from the poem of the same name, by Ferdinand Freiligrath (18101876). The Lied dealt with reminiscing over a lost love – and the toolate realization of not having that love lived to its fullest.

Liebestraum No. 3 for piano is a mood piece, in which the opening melody of the song becomes the main theme, repeated through multiple variations. The Liebestraum carries a characteristic atmosphere of melancholy. Khatia Buniatishvili is enraptured as she plays, as if she were alone with Liebestraum No. 3 in the concert hall – a most romantic work for piano in an interpretation that none could fail to be drawn into.

Pianist Khatia Buniatishvili, born in 1987 in Tbilisi/Georgia, was considered a wunderkind as a child. She began playing piano at the age of three, giving her first concert with the Tbilisi Concert Orchestra at age six. International performances followed from the age of ten. In 2008, she had her US debut in New York's Carnegie Hall. Since then, Buniatishvili has been a regularly invite at many highprofile festivals, and has performed concerts in the world's most renowned concert halls, including Vienna's Musikverein, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Berlin Philharmonic. She has twice received the highly respected Echo Classic Award.

The Verbier Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious classical music events. The quality of participating artists – coupled with the originality of the programs – has established the festival as a highlight of the musical calendar. It is held for two weeks – from late July to early August – in the mountain resort of Verbier, Switzerland.

© EuroArts Music International / Idéale Audience

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