Customer Reviews

Leon Fleisher Recital - Bach/Brahms, Scriabin, Saint-Saens

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Leon Fleisher needs no introduction. Don't you just hate that? Everybody needs an introduction, no matter how famous they are. You, out there, may have never heard of Leon Fleisher. You may not even feel bad about it, considering that you are way behind in your other self-improvement projects. You may be stuck in the middle of the Plato's Dialogues, and may not have even started that Balzac.
No matter what your circumstances are, you need to be urgently introduced to Mr. Fleisher, and this CD is a perfect way of doing it!
You will be immediately impressed by the most delicate playing ever, in which Mr. Fleisher literally caresses each note. As you listen to his performance of Bach you will finally understand what Plato meant by the world of perfect forms. The rest of the pieces reveal emotional variety and richness in which you will easily participate.
Maybe Mr. Fleisher is so famous because he makes his listeners feel so special. We achieve musical greatness vicariously, through him.
After you finish listening to this CD, please "Google" Mr. Fleisher to learn about his extraordinary courage and spirit in times of disability of his right hand. There is a happy ending in which his love and great gift for music conquered all adversity! You will also learn about his incredible, most impressive musical pedigree. By this time, fortunately, it will be too late to be intimidated by it! Leon Fleisher has already become your friend. He played his gentle music just for you, in your living room.

Clear and detailed Toccata and Fugue. Crisp Saint Saens Op 135. Masterful interpretation of Brahm's transcription of the Chaccone from Bach's Second Solo Violin Partita. The Scriabin and Blumenthal are expressive and warm but seem aren't terribly moving. Thee hand-taxing Symphonic Metamorphoses is sparkly and flamboyant. Sound is a bit bright, but disc is highly enjoyable.

Michel Beroff recorded similar repertoire, superbly played, but somehow it hasn't caught my interest. On the other hand, Fleisher's performaces of these works are captivating. Amazing thing is that your attention is never drawn to left-handed-ness of playing, but to the music itself. Sheer musicianship and artistry transcend such technical matter. His performance of Saint-Saens' Etudes, Brahms's transcription of Bach's Chaconne, Blumenfeld's dazzling Etude is second to none. Except for too languid account of Scriabin's Op.9 Nocturne (unusually for him Fleisher completely misjudges tempo!), I thoroughly enjoyed every track of the CD.

A wonderful introduction to a sampling of the most important works for solo piano left hand, beautifully played and with an informative discussion of the music on the "record jacket".

I purchased this CD for the Brahms transcription of the Bach Chaconne and was as thrilled as I have ever been listening to a piano performance. I remember what a rising star Leon Fleisher was before losing the ability to use his right hand - he was viewed as the heir to Horowitz. The mastery Fleisher reveals in the recording of these pieces for left hand alone far surpasses anything I have ever heard from ANY pianist, one handed or two. Certainly, these are on a par far removed from the hackneyed recordings of Paul Wittgenstein, for whom so much Left Hand music was transcribed or composed. Surely, no one will be disappointed by this CD and I urge serious 'collectors' to purchase a copy. Thankfully, Mr. Fleischer has now regained the full use of his right hand and I expect we will see additional wonderous music being offered in the future.