Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année : Italie, S. 161

Franz Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage is a cycle of three compilations of piano pieces composed between 1835 and 1839, during his travels between Switzerland and Italy with his lover, the countess Marie d’Agoult. Unlike what the title might suggest, Années de pèlerinage (“Years of Pilgrimage”) is not a religious work, even though it shows the evolution of a vocation: in this work, Art (with a capital letter) is celebrated! In fact, the pieces that compose the Années are all inspired by some artistic works that the Hungarian composer saw during his voyages. This is particularly evident in Deuxième année (“Second Year”), dedicated to Italy, its painting, the Renaissance, Michelangelo, Petrarch; in short, to Beauty! Franz Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage S. 161 is considered a masterpiece, a pillar of Liszt’s musical style. Besides, as his inspiration behind the Année de pèlerinage was drawn from the Italian artistic patrimony, it is not surprising that its public was absolutely amazed: it shows the Stendhal syndrome, also called “Florence syndrome!”