When legendary pianist, Leon Fleisher performed with the New York Philharmonic under conductor, Pierre Monteux, the maestro called the 16-year old “the pianistic find of the century.”
In this new century, Fleisher continues to enthrall audiences and will do so once again this afternoon at the Music Center at Strathmore.
Under the baton of Maestro Piotr Gajewski conducting the National Philharmonic, Fleisher will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 4. Also on the program is Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on a Bald Mountain” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6, ‘The Pathetique’.” A most challenging piece, the Prokofiev piano concerto was written specifically for the left hand. It was commissioned by concert pianist, Paul Wittgenstein, who had lost his right arm in World War I.
Fleisher, however, is no stranger to both challenge and one-handed playing. In the mid-1960s his right hand was disabled by what was later diagnosed as repetitive stress syndrome. Undaunted, he set about mastering the left-hand piano repertoire. (Forty years later Vanguard Classics would release his first “two-handed” recording, appropriately titled “Two Hands.”)
To this day, he praises — and continues to perform — left-handed compositions.
“[Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand] is another unsung example of the masterpieces that Wittgenstein had the good fortune and good instinct to have commissioned,” Fleisher said.
When asked if the Prokofiev was his favorite, he noted that he has “no favorite other than the one I am playing at the moment.”
Jody Silverman, the National Philharmonic’s associate principal violinist, remembered Fleisher’s prior performance with the orchestra — a Beethoven concerto featured in February 2008.
“Mr. Fleisher was wonderfully gracious to play with, and is a master of interpretation,” she said. “I was also able to observe him in a master class setting for high school students [and] he is so musical, such a gifted teacher.”
She also notes that in addition to finding the Prokofiev a wonderful piece, she is thrilled to be in an orchestra when a “keyboard giant” is performing.
“What an incredible opportunity to hear a true master of the keyboard,” she continued. “And of course the rest of the program is exciting. Mussorgsky’s ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony [are] always crowd pleasers and among the most beloved of symphonic works.”
