Liszt became fast friends with the young composer, Hector Berlioz, and much influenced by his compositions, which were along new harmonic lines.  Chopin, the young Polish artist, now appeared in Paris, playing his E minor Concerto, his Mazurkas and Nocturnes, revealing new phases of art.  Chopin’s calm composure tranquilized Liszt’s excitable nature.  From Chopin, Liszt learned to “express in music the poetry of the aristocratic salon.”  Liszt ever remained a true and admiring friend of the Pole, and wrote the poetic study sketch of him in 1849.

Liszt was now twenty-three.  Broadened and chastened by all he had passed through, he resumed his playing in aristocratic homes.  He also appeared in public and was found to be quite a different artist from what the Parisians had previously known.  His bold new harmonies in his own compositions, the rich effects, showed a deep knowledge of his art.  He had transcribed a number of Berlioz’s most striking compositions to the piano and performed them with great effect.

The handsome and gifted young artist was everywhere the object of admiration.  He also met George Sand, and was soon numbered among that wonderful and dangerous woman’s best friends.  Later he met the young and beautiful Countess Laprunarede, and a mutual attraction ensued.  The elderly Count, her husband, pleased with the dashing young musician, invited him to spend the winter at his chateau, in Switzerland, where the witty Countess virtually kept him prisoner.

The following winter, 1833-34, when the salons opened again, Liszt frequented them as before.  He was in the bloom of youth and fame, when he met the woman who was to be linked with his destiny for the next ten years.

We have sketched the childhood and youth of this wonderful artist up to this point.  We will pass lightly over this decade of his career, merely stating briefly that the lady—­the beautiful Countess d’Agoult, captivated by the brilliant talents of the Hungarian virtuoso, left her husband and child, and became for ten years the faithful companion of his travels and tours over Europe.  Many writers agree that Liszt endeavored to dissuade her from this attraction, and behaved as honorably as he could under the circumstances.  A part of the time they lived in Switzerland, and it was there that many of Liszt’s compositions were written.

Of their three children, the boy died very young.  Of the girls, Blandine became the wife of Emile Ollivier, a French literary man and statesman.  Her sister, Cosima, married first Hans von Buelow and later Richard Wagner.

In 1843 Liszt intended to take Madame with him to Russia, but instead, left her and her children in Paris, with his mother, as the Countess was in failing health.  His first concert, in St. Petersburg, realized the enormous sum of fifty thousand francs—­ten thousand dollars.  Instead of giving one concert in Moscow, he gave six.  Later he played in Bavaria, Saxony and other parts of Germany.  He then settled in Weimar for a time, being made Grand Ducal Capellmeister.  Then, in 1844-45, longing for more success, he toured Spain and Portugal.