Busoni and His Muses Festival Opening Lecture

Celebrating Pianos! Busoni and His Muses

A Festival Commemorating the Centennial of His Death

6:30 PM Lecture: Franz Liszt’s Heir: Ferruccio Busoni and Weimar

Erinn Knyt, a distinguished Busoni scholar and Professor of Music History at UMass Amherst, will illustrate how Liszt’s Weimar years became models for Busoni as he sought to position himself as a prominent performer-composer-conductor-teacher-musical authority at the turn of the century.

Arguably the greatest pianist of his time, the legacy of Ferruccio Busoni (1866–1924) is perpetuated through popular piano transcriptions and his futuristic musical thinking. Curated by pianist and Associate Chair for Performance Activities Jiayan Sun and featuring concerts, lectures, and panels, the two-day festival explores Busoni’s musical roots and the formation of his musical identity in the  fin de siècle.

Free and open to the public.