Thalberg one of the Greatest of Executants.--Rather a Man of Remarkable Talents than of Genius.--Moseheles's Description of him.--The Illegitimate Son of an Austrian Prince.--Early Introduction to Musical Society in London and Vienna.--Beginning of his Career as a Virtuoso.--The Brilliancy of his Career.--Is appointed Court Pianist to the Emperor of Austria.--His Marriage.--Visits to America.--Thalberg's Artistic Idiosyncrasy.--Robert Schumann on his Playing.--His Appearance and Manner.--Characterization by George William Curtis.--Thalberg's Style and Worth as an Artist.--His Piano-forte Method, and Place as a Composer for the Piano.--Gottschalk's Birth and Early Years.--He is sent to Paris for Instruction.--Successful _Debut_ and Publie Concerts in Paris and Tour through the French Cities.--Friendship with Berlioz.--Concert Tour to Spain.--Romantic Experiences.--Berlioz on Gottschalk.--Reception of Gottschalk in America.--Criticism of his Style.--Remarkable Success of his Concerts.--His Visit to the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America.--Protracted Absence.--Gottschalk on Life in the Tropics.--Return to the United States.--Three Brilliant Musical Years.--Departure for South America.--Triumphant Procession through the Spanish-American Cities.--Death at Rio Janeiro.--Notes on Gottschalk as Man and Artist. FRANZ LISZT. The Spoiled Favorite of Fortune.--His Inherited Genius.--Birth and Early Training.--First Appearance in Concert.--Adam Liszt and his Son in Paris.--Sensation made by the Boy's Playing.--His Morbid Religious Sufferings.--Franz Liszt thrown on his own Resources.--The Artistic Circle in Paris.--Liszt in the Ranks of Romanticism.--His Friends and Associates.--Mme. D'Agoult and her Connection with Franz Liszt.--He retires to Geneva.--Is recalled to Paris by the Thalberg _Furore_.--Rivalry between the Artists and their Factions.--He commences his Career as Traveling Virtuoso.--The Blaze of Enthusiasm throughout Europe.--Schumann on Liszt as Man and Artist.--He ranks the Hungarian Virtuoso as the Superior of Thalberg.--Liszt's Generosity to his own Countrymen.--The Honors paid to him in Pesth.--Incidents of his Musical Wanderings.--He loses the Proceeds of Three Hundred Concerts.--Contributes to the Completion of the Cologne Cathedral.--His Connection with the Beethoven Statue at Bonn, and the Celebration of the Unveiling.--Chorley on Liszt.--Berlioz and Liszt.--Character of the Enthusiasm called out by Liszt as an Artist.--Remarkable Personality as a Man.--Berlioz characterizes the Great Virtuoso in a Letter.--Liszt ceases his Life as a Virtuoso, and becomes Chapel-Master and Court Conductor at Weimar.--Avowed Belief in the New School of Music, and Production of Works of this School.--Wagner's Testimony to Liszt's Assistance.--Liszt's Resignation of his Weimar Post after Ten Years.--His Subsequent Life.--He takes Holy Orders.--Liszt as a Virtuoso and Composer.--Entitled to be placed among the most Remarkable Men of his Age.