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Artist
Leon Fleisher
12+ albums
pianoClassicalclassical pianoVirtuosoemusic
about
Leon Fleisher (born July 23, 1928 - died August 2, 2020) is an American pianist and conductor. He was born in San Francisco, California, where he started studying the piano at age 4. He made his public debut at age 8 and played with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Monteux at 16; Monteux famously called him "the pianistic find of the century." He became one of the few child virtuosos to be accepted for study with Artur Schnabel. He made a memorable series of recordings with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra before losing the use of his right hand due to focal dystonia. He continued performing the left-handed repertoire until he quite recently regained the use of his right hand through a combination of massage and botox injections. He also undertook conducting during this time, serving at one time as Music Director of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra in Maryland. He is particularly well-known for his interpretations of the piano concerti of Brahms and Beethoven. In 2004, Vanguard Classics released Leon Fleisher's first "two-handed" recording in over 40 years, entitled "Two Hands", to critical acclaim. "Two Hands" is also the title of a short documentary on Fleisher by Nathaniel Kahn which was nominated for an Academy Award for best short subject on January 23, 2007. Fleisher received the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors. Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman described him as "a consummate musician whose career is a moving testament to the life-affirming power
top songs
1
Sheep may safely graze
8532Piano Sonata No. 1: Lento/doppo movemento
4133Piano Sonata No. 1: Adagio
3434J.S. Bach - Sheep May Safely Graze (Arr. Egon Petti)
3415J.S. Bach - Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Arr. Myra Hess)
3356C. Debussy - Clair De Lune (Suite Bergamasque)
3277F. Chopin - Mazurka In C Sharp Min. Op 50 No. 3
3188F. Chopin - Nocturne In D Flat Maj. Op 27 No. 2
3109Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
30610Claude Debussy - Clair de lune
300albums
Two Hands
All the Things You Are
Piano Concertos For The Left Hand
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Brahms: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Leon Fleisher Plays Beethoven & Brahms
Mozart: Piano Concertos
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Four Hands
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Piano Works for the Left Hand
The Journey
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Copland: Piano Sonata - Sessions: From My Diary - Kirchner: Piano Sonata - Rorem: 3 Barcarolles
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Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Franck: Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra; Ravel: Alborada del Gracioso
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Leon Fleisher Recital