Josef Danhauser, Liszt at the Piano (1840). The young pianist appears at the centre of an artistic gathering, a scene that evokes the fascination surrounding his musical personality in the Romantic era. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Franz Liszt had achieved a kind of fame that extended far beyond the musical world. His appearances inspired extraordinary excitement, and his presence on stage could fill a concert hall with anticipation before he had played a single note. Audiences came to hear him, to see him, and to take part in an experience that sometimes approached collective fascination. At a time when concerts also occupied an important place in European social life, Liszt had made his personality an essential part of the musical occasion. Those who gathered to hear him expected more than an exceptional performance. They anticipated an event that might remain in their memories for years.