 "Lisztomania" swept across Europe, the emotional charge of his recitals making them "more like séances than serious musical events", and the reaction of many of his listeners could be characterized as hysterical.Musicologist Alan Walker says, "Liszt was a natural phenomenon, and people were swayed by him... With his mesmeric personality and long mane of flowing hair, he created a striking stage presence.And there were many witnesses to testify that his playing did indeed raise the mood of an audience to a level of mystical ecstasy."