Franz Liszt ： Années de pèlerinage deuxième année “Italie” Sonetto 104 del Petrarca in E-Dur S.161/R.10-5

Inspired by Petrarch’s Sonnet 104, this short work combines deep lyricism with dramatic contrasts. A long, song-like melody gradually grows from a quiet, intimate utterance into an impassioned passage through changing harmonies, eventually reaching a broad climax. The tension then eases as the music settles, leaving a lingering aftertaste. In performance, the melody should emerge clearly as a continuous vocal line, while the accompaniment remains restrained and the inner voices retain their color. Rather than fixing the tempo mechanically, allow flexible timing that follows the breathing of each phrase. In the climactic passages, enrich the sonority while preserving the delicacy needed to avoid forcing the peak through sheer volume.