Franz Liszt
Much of Liszt's music is incredibly advanced; he had a huge effect on the post-Romantics and early Contemporary composers.
Along with violinist Nicolo Paganini, pianist Liszt was the foremost virtuoso in an age of virtuosos.
Liszt exuded such passion, strength, and obsessiveness when he performed that women swooned and men disapproved.
Although Liszt can be accused of being a pleasure-seeking sensualist as a young man, he became a priest in later life.
