Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, S.244/2, is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt, and by far the most famous of the set. It offered the pianist to reveal his exceptional virtuoso skills while providing the listener with an immediate musical appeal. Composed in 1847 and first published by Ricordi as piano solo, this work showcases Liszt’s nationalist influences. Its inmediate succes led to the creation of orchestral and duet piano versions.

By the late 19th century, the technical challenges of the piano solo version led to its unofficial acceptance as a standard by which every notable pianist could demonstrate his level. It had become an expected staple of virtually every performance of the greatest pianists. Most unusual is the composer’s explicit invitation for the performer to improvise an original cadenza, an invitation most performers chose to decline.