From the autumn of 1864, Liszt accepted the invitation of Cardinal Gustav Adolf zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst almost every year to spend a few days or weeks at the Villa d'Este in Tivoli near Rome. He often received visitors there from Rome besides Liszt and his pupils the liberal-minded, cultured prelate also attracted representatives of the intellectual elite. This extraordinary place not only became Liszt's favourite dwelling-place in Italy but also inspired him to write several works for pian...