Liszt

Welcome to the Keys for Curtis "piano pages." For the campaign, this piano has been named after composer Franz Liszt, one of the twenty-two composers selected to represent the deep heritage and diversity of classical music.

An only child born in 1811 to a musical father, Liszt was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher.  He became renowned throughout Europe during the nineteenth century for his great skill as a performer and is considered the most technically advanced pianist of his age.

At age 18, Liszt became a student of Carl Czerny, the legendary teacher who studied with Beethoven. Theodor Leschetizky, another Czerny student, taught Isabelle Vengerova, who taught piano at Curtis from 1924 to 1956.  Ms. Venerova's students at Curtis include current former Curtis president and current piano faculty member Gary Graffman.  

About This Piano

• In September, 2010, members of the Curtis piano faculty visited the Steinway factory in Long Island and selected twenty-two new pianos needed when Curtis expanded its campus to include Lenfest Hall.
• Steinway & Sons began building fine pianos in 1853. Handmade and built to last for generations, Steinway pianos are exceptional investments as well as superb musical instruments.   
• Curtis has been an "All-Steinway School" since its founding in 1924 - one of nine conservatories, eighty colleges and unversities, and twenty-one other schools of distinction so designated.
• This piano, one of the school's seven new Steinway Model O grand pianos, measures five feet ten and thee-quarters inches in length. Like all Steinway's this new grand piano is an exceptional musical instrument, built of the finest materials to the highest quality standards.
• The "Liszt" piano, Steinway O, #588503, was delivered to Lenfest Hall in July, 2011. Today, the piano can be found in Room 310, the Pollack Teaching Studio, where it's used for music instruction and student practice.

A Piano Keyboard Honoring Curtis Trustee Nina Albert on her Birthday

• On the occasion of the March 20 birthday of Nina Albert, her children have made a generous contribution to Curtis of all eighty-eight keys of the Liszt piano. Happy birthday, Nina! 

 Dini and Michael Albert on the occasion of Nina Albert's birthday

If you have questions or need additional information, please call the Curtis Development Office, (215) 893-5279 and mention "Keys for Curtis."