FIU RESEARCH TAKES CENTER STAGE AT 2023 AMERICAN LISZT SOCIETY FESTIVAL CONFERENCE The annual 2023 American Liszt Society (ALS) Festival Conference, held from May 18 - May 21, at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL, was a testament to the exceptional programming and research prominence of FIU's esteemed music faculty. Co-hosted and meticulously programmed by FIU Professor of Keyboard Studies Dr. José López who also serves as the president of the South Florida Chapter of the ALS - the festival featured a series of captivating performances, presentations, and collaborations by acclaimed musicians and distinguished scholars from around the world. The festival's theme "Liszt and Schubert" commemorated the 200th anniversary of the creation/publication of the "Wanderer" Fantasy, D. 760 (1822-23) and its influence on Liszt's compositional development, especially the use of thematic/rhythmic transformation as a unifying force. PAGE 28
Equally central to the festival was the exploration of Schubert's songs in piano transcriptions and the influence of Schubert's Czech contemporaries on the development of the quintessential short character piano piece during the Romantic era. Attendees were treated to enlightening lectures and presentations by esteemed scholars Jay Rosenblatt, Mark DeZwaan, Ben and Elizabeth Arnold who delved into various facets of Liszt and Schubert's musical genius. The complete Schöne Müllerin cycle (1823) from Schubert's Lieder production was presented as well as a remarkable rendition of the complete Soirées de Vienne and Années de Pèlerinage Book I ("Suisse"). Robert Dundas, tenor and Associate Professor of Vocal Studies, presented a lecture unveiling unknown lieder of German author and composer, Peter Gast, who remains largely unknown to many audiences. His research of Nietzsche’s St. Peter shed light on the many guises in which Liszt’s sensitivity to the written word appeared in his compositions.
