Editing Franz Liszt (section)

==== The Ivory Duel ====
[[File:Sigismond Thalberg (by Grevedon).jpeg|thumb|upright|Sigismond Thalberg (1836)]]
Swiss pianist [[Sigismond Thalberg]] moved to Paris in 1835 after several successful years of touring. His concerts there were extremely well received, and Liszt, at the time living in Geneva, received news of them from his friends in Paris. In the autumn of 1836 Liszt published an unfavourable review of several of Thalberg's compositions in the ''Gazette musicale'', calling them "boring" and "mediocre". A published exchange of views ensued between Liszt and Thalberg's supporter, the critic [[François-Joseph Fétis]].{{sfn|Hall-Swadley|Liszt|2012|pp=17-18}}

Liszt heard Thalberg perform for the first time at the Paris Conservatoire in February 1837, and to settle the disagreement the two pianists each arranged a performance for the public to compare them the following month. Liszt performed his own ''Grande fantaisie sur des motifs de Niobe'' and Weber's ''[[Konzertstück in F minor (Weber)|Konzertstück in F minor]]''. This was considered to be inconclusive, so the two agreed to perform at the same concert for comparison on 31 March, at the salon of the [[Cristina Trivulzio Belgiojoso|Princess of Belgiojoso]], in aid of Italian refugees. Thalberg opened with his ''Fantasia on Rossini's "Moses"'', then Liszt performed his ''Niobe'' fantasy.{{sfn|Hall-Swadley|Liszt|2012|p=18}}

The result of this "duel" is disputed. Critic [[Jules Janin]]'s report in ''[[Journal des débats]]'' asserted that there was no clear winner: "Two victors and no vanquished; it is fitting to say with the poet '{{lang|la|et adhuc sub judice lis est}}". Belgiojoso declined to declare a winner, famously concluding that "Thalberg is the first pianist in the world{{snd}}Liszt is unique."{{sfn|Eckhardt|Mueller|Walker|2001|loc=§7}} The biographer [[Alan Walker (musicologist)|Alan Walker]], however, believes that "Liszt received the ovation of the evening and all doubts about his supremacy were dispelled. As for Thalberg, his humiliation was complete. He virtually disappeared from the concert platform after this date."{{sfn|Walker|1973|p=40}}