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Leon Fleisher
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Person · Male · classical pianist · conductor · music educator

Leon Fleisher

Leon Fleischer
Born 23 Jul 1928Died 2 Aug 2020United States45 albums

American conductor and pianist (1928–2020)

Biography

Leon Fleisher (July 23, 1928 – August 2, 2020) was an American classical pianist, conductor, and pedagogue. He was one of the most renowned pianists and pedagogues in the world. Music correspondent Elijah Ho called him "one of the most refined and transcendent musicians the United States has ever produced". Born in San Francisco, Fleisher began playing piano at the age of four, and began studying with Artur Schnabel at age nine. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of the two piano concertos of Brahms and the five concertos of Beethoven, which he recorded with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. With Szell, he also recorded concertos by Mozart, Grieg, Schumann, Franck, and Rachmaninoff. In 1964, he lost the use of his right hand due to a neurological condition eventually diagnosed as focal dystonia, forcing him to focus on the repertoire for the left hand, such as Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and many compositions written for him. In 2004, he played the world premiere of Paul Hindemith's Klaviermusik, a piano concerto for the left hand completed in 1923, with the Berlin Philharmonic. After being treated by neurologist Daniel B. Drachman, he regained...

From Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

People

Children

Dickie FleisherJulian Fleisher

Married to

Katherine Jacobson Fleisher

Teachers

Artur SchnabelKarl Ulrich SchnabelMaria Curcio

Students

Jane Coop1973–1976Seth Knopppiano · 1981–?Oliver Schnyder1998–2001Christopher Falzonepiano · 2003–2008Aimo PaginpianoAlan J. BallpianoAleksandar SerdarpianoAndré WattsBeatrice LongpianoBen KimpianoBrian GanzpianoCarmen PicardpianoCatherine WeillpianoClaire‐Marie Le GuaypianoDenis PascalDina KostonEdna SternpianoEnrique GrafEun Joo ChungpianoFrank LévyGregory AllenpianoHugh WolffHélène GrimaudIreneus ZukpianoJean SaulnierpianoJoel FanJoel WizanskypianoJonathan BissJudy Chin CottetpianoJulian MartinpianoJura MargulisKatsunori IshiipianoKwan YipianoLori SimspianoLouis LortieManeli PirzadehpianoMargarita HöhenriederMarian HahnpianoNeil RutmanpianoNelita TruepianoNicholas AngelichOlivier ChauzuPaweł ChęcińskipianoRachel Naomi KudopianoReiko UchidaReynaldo G. ReyespianoSaar AhuviaStephanie HoStéphan SylvestrepianoThomas HechtpianoYefim BronfmanYong-Hi MoonpianoΚάρολος Ζουγανέλης

Songs recorded

  1. Alborada Del Gracioso3 versions
  2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73 “Emperor”: II. Adagio un poco moto2 versions
  3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19: I. Allegro con brio2 versions
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19: II. Adagio2 versions
  5. Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34: I. Allegro non troppo2 versions
  6. Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34: II. Andante, un poco Adagio2 versions
  7. Suite for Two Violins, Cello and Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: III. Groteske. Möglich rasch2 versions
  8. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 1 in D major
  9. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 11 in A-flat major
  10. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 3 in D major
  11. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 4 in D major
  12. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 5 in B minor
  13. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 6 in G-sharp minor
  14. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 7 in A-flat major
  15. 12 Ländler, D. 790: No. 8 in A-flat minor
  16. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 1 Prélude
  17. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 2 Alla Fuga
  18. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 3 Moto Perpetuo
  19. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 4 Bourrée
  20. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 5 Élégie
  21. 6 Études, op. 135: No. 6 Gigue
  22. Alborada del gracioso (No.4 from "Miroirs")
  23. All the Things You Are
  24. Bagatelle No.25 in A minor "Für Elise", WoO.59
  25. Bagatelle in A minor ('Für Elise'), WoO59
  26. Beethoven: Bagatelle No.25 in A minor, “Fur Elise," WoO59
  27. Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57
  28. Berceuse in D-flat, Op.57
  29. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 1. Arioso. Adagio
  30. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 2. Fughetta
  31. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 3. Adagissimo
  32. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 4. Andante
  33. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 5. Postilion's Aria. Allegro poco
  34. Capriccio in B-flat Ön the Departure of a Brother", BWV 992 - 6. Fugue in imitation of the posthorn
  35. Chaconne
  36. Chaconne From Partita For Solo Violin No. 2 In D Minor BWV 1004
  37. Chacony
  38. Chopin: Mazurka in C-sharp Minor, Op.53, No.3
  39. Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op.27, No.2
  40. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 - 1. Fantasy
  41. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 - 2. Fugue
  42. Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
  43. Concerto Pour Piano & Orchestre en la mineur, Op. 54
  44. Concerto for 3 Pianos & Orchestra No. 7 in F major, K. 242 "Lodron": I. Allegro
  45. Concerto for 3 Pianos & Orchestra No. 7 in F major, K. 242 "Lodron": II. Adagio
  46. Concerto for 3 Pianos & Orchestra No. 7 in F major, K. 242 "Lodron": III. Rondo. Tempo di minuetto
  47. Concerto for Piano (Left hand) and Orchestra (conclusion)
  48. Concerto for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra no. 4 in B-flat major, op. 53: I. Vivace
  49. Concerto for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra no. 4 in B-flat major, op. 53: II. Andante
  50. Concerto for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra no. 4 in B-flat major, op. 53: III. Moderato
  51. Concerto for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra no. 4 in B-flat major, op. 53: IV. Vivace
  52. Concerto for Piano No. 12 in A major, K. 385p / K3 386a / KV 414: I. Allegro
  53. Concerto for Piano No. 12 in A major, K. 385p / K3 386a / KV 414: II. Andante
  54. Concerto for Piano No. 12 in A major, K. 385p / K3 386a / KV 414: III. Rondo. Allegretto
  55. Concerto for Piano No. 23 in A major, K. 488: I. Allegro
  56. Concerto for Piano No. 23 in A major, K. 488: II. Adagio
  57. Concerto for Piano No. 23 in A major, K. 488: III. Allegro assai
  58. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato
  59. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
  60. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace
  61. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 16: II. Adagio
  62. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D major "For the Left Hand": I. Lento - Andante - Allegro - Tempo 1°
  63. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in D minor, op. 15: I. Maestoso
  64. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in D minor, op. 15: II. Adagio
  65. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 in D minor, op. 15: III. Rondo. Allegro non Troppo
  66. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83: I. Allegro non troppo
  67. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83: II. Allegro appassionato
  68. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83: III. Andante
  69. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83: IV. Allegretto grazioso
  70. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 5 in E-flat major “Emperor”, op. 73: III. Rondo. Allegro
  71. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73 “Emperor”: I. Allegro
  72. Concerto for the Left Hand
  73. Concerto for the Left Hand in D major
  74. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 16: I. Allegro molto moderato
  75. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 16: II. Adagio
  76. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 16: III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Quasi presto - Andante maestoso
  77. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 54: I. Allegro affettuoso
  78. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 54: II. Intermezzo. Andantino grazioso
  79. Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 54: III. Allegro vivace
  80. Concerto pour piano no. 4 (I)
  81. Concerto pour piano n° 1 en ré mineur, 1 Maestoso
  82. Concerto pour piano n° 1 en ré mineur, 2 Adagio
  83. Concerto pour piano n° 1 en ré mineur, 3 Rondo, Allegro non troppo
  84. Concerto pour piano n° 2 en si bémol majeur, 1 Allegro con brio
  85. Concerto pour piano n° 2 en si bémol majeur, 2 Adagio
  86. Concerto pour piano n° 2 en si bémol majeur, Rondo, Molto allegro
  87. Debussy: Suite Bergamasque, 3rd movement: Clair de lune
  88. Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D. 965
  89. Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D. 965, Op. 129
  90. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich
  91. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
  92. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Aus alten Märchen winkt es
  93. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Aus meinen Tränen spriessen
  94. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
  95. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
  96. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Die alten, bösen Lieder
  97. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen
  98. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen
  99. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Ich grolle nicht, und wenn das Herz auch bricht
  100. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Ich hab' im Traum geweinet
  101. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Ich will meine Seele tauchen
  102. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
  103. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
  104. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Und wüssten's die Blumen, die kleinen
  105. Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'
  106. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Finale - Tarantella. Presto con fuoco
  107. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Theme. Maestoso
  108. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 10: Adagio
  109. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 1: Recitative. L'istesso tempo
  110. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 2: Romance. Allegretto mosso
  111. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 3: March. Allegro con brio
  112. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 4: Arabesque. Allegretto
  113. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 5: Chant: Andante solennemente
  114. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 6: Nocturne. Andante piacevole
  115. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 7: Badinerie. Grave
  116. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 8: Burlesque. Molto moderato
  117. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 9a: Toccata I. Allegro
  118. Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, op. 21: Var. 9b: Toccata II. L'istesso tempo
  119. Fantasie in C major, op. 15, D 760 “Wanderer Fantasy”: I. Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo
  120. Fantasie in C major, op. 15, D 760 “Wanderer Fantasy”: II. Adagio

Albums

The Four Temperaments / Five Pieces / Funeral Music
The Four Temperaments / Five Pieces / Funeral MusicPaul Hindemith; The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Szymon Goldberg, Leon Fleisher · 1956
Klavierkonzerte 2 & 4
Klavierkonzerte 2 & 4Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester, Hans Rosbaud, Otto Klemperer · 1957
Schubert: Klaviersonate B-Dur / Ländler / Franck: Sinfonische Variationen
Schubert: Klaviersonate B-Dur / Ländler / Franck: Sinfonische VariationenSchubert, Franck; Leon Fleisher, The Philadelphia Orchestra, George Szell · 1957
Klavierkonzerte Nr. 12 & 25
Klavierkonzerte Nr. 12 & 25Mozart; Leon Fleisher · 1959
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor / Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor / Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minorGrieg, Schumann; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 1960
Liszt: Sonata in B minor / Weber: Sonata no. 4 in E minor / Invitation to the Dance
Liszt: Sonata in B minor / Weber: Sonata no. 4 in E minor / Invitation to the DanceFranz Liszt, Carl Maria von Weber; Leon Fleisher · 1960
Klavierkonzert Nr. 1, op. 15
Klavierkonzert Nr. 1, op. 15Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester, André Cluytens · 1961
Piano Concerto no. 5
Piano Concerto no. 5Ludwig van Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 1961
Schubert: Fantasy for Piano in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie"; Sonata for Piano in A Major, Op. 120, D. 664
Schubert: Fantasy for Piano in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie"; Sonata for Piano in A Major, Op. 120, D. 664Leon Fleisher · 1963
Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 4 / Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 25
Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 4 / Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 25Beethoven, Mozart; The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, Leon Fleisher · 1988
Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos / Mozart: Concerto No. 25
Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos / Mozart: Concerto No. 25Beethoven, Mozart; The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, Leon Fleisher · 1989
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Franck: Symphonic Variations / Ravel: Alborada del Gracioso
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Franck: Symphonic Variations / Ravel: Alborada del GraciosoRachmaninoff, Franck, Ravel; The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, Leon Fleisher · 1989
Piano Concerto no. 5 “Emperor” / Triple Concerto
Piano Concerto no. 5 “Emperor” / Triple ConcertoBeethoven; Leon Fleisher, Eugene Istomin, Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, George Szell, Eugene Ormandy · 1991
Piano Concertos no. 1 & no. 3
Piano Concertos no. 1 & no. 3Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 1991
Piano Concertos nos. 2 & 4
Piano Concertos nos. 2 & 4Ludwig van Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 1992
The 5 Piano Concertos / Triple Concerto
The 5 Piano Concertos / Triple ConcertoLudwig van Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, Eugene Istomin, Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, George Szell, Eugene Ormandy · 1992
Wanderer Fantasy / Piano Sonata In A Major D 664 / 4 Impromptus D 899
Wanderer Fantasy / Piano Sonata In A Major D 664 / 4 Impromptus D 899Schubert; Leon Fleisher, Nelson Freire · 1992
Piano Works for the Left Hand
Piano Works for the Left HandRavel, Prokofiev, Britten; Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa, Leon Fleisher · 1993
Pianoforte: Grandi compositori, grandi interpreti
Pianoforte: Grandi compositori, grandi interpretiRobert Schumann, Edvard Grieg; Leon Fleisher · 1994
Piano Concertos / Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel / Waltzes
Piano Concertos / Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel / WaltzesBrahms; Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 1997
Song Cycles: Op. 24, 42, & 48
Song Cycles: Op. 24, 42, & 48Schumann; Leon Fleisher, Phyllis Bryn‐Julson, John Shirley‐Quirk · 1997
Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Volume 27: Leon Fleisher
Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Volume 27: Leon FleisherLeon Fleisher · 1998
Music for Strings and Piano Left Hand
Music for Strings and Piano Left HandErich Wolfgang Korngold, Franz Schmidt; Leon Fleisher, Joseph Silverstein, Jaime Laredo, Joel Smirnoff, Michael Tree, Yo‐Yo Ma · 1998
Two Hands
Two HandsLeon Fleisher · 2004
Piano Concerto no. 3 / Piano Concerto no. 4
Piano Concerto no. 3 / Piano Concerto no. 4Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 2006
The Journey
The JourneyLeon Fleisher · 2006
Grieg & Schumann: Piano Concertos
Grieg & Schumann: Piano ConcertosLeon Fleisher · 2007
Piano Quintet / The String Quartets
Piano Quintet / The String QuartetsBrahms; Emerson String Quartet, Leon Fleisher · 2007
The Essential Leon Fleisher
The Essential Leon FleisherLeon Fleisher · 2008
Hindemith: Klaviermusik mit Orchester (for piano left hand) / Dvořák: Symphony no. 9 “From the New World”
Hindemith: Klaviermusik mit Orchester (for piano left hand) / Dvořák: Symphony no. 9 “From the New World”Hindemith, Dvořák; Leon Fleisher, Curtis Symphony Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach · 2009
Piano Concertos Nos. 7, 12 and 23
Piano Concertos Nos. 7, 12 and 23Mozart; Leon Fleisher · 2009
Brahms: Concerto Pour Piano N° 1 / Beethoven: Concerto Pour Piano N° 2
Brahms: Concerto Pour Piano N° 1 / Beethoven: Concerto Pour Piano N° 2Brahms, Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell · 2012
Leon Fleisher Plays Beethoven and Brahms
Leon Fleisher Plays Beethoven and BrahmsBeethoven, Brahms; Leon Fleisher · 2012
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Franck: Symphonic Variations
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Franck: Symphonic VariationsRachmaninoff, Franck; Leon Fleisher · 2013
The Complete Album Collection
The Complete Album CollectionLeon Fleisher · 2013
All the Things You Are
All the Things You AreLeon Fleisher · 2014
Schumann: Piano Concerto / Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 2
Schumann: Piano Concerto / Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 2Schumann, Beethoven; Annie Fischer, Philharmonia Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini, Leon Fleisher, Swiss Festival Orchestra, George Szell · 2015
Symphonie - Sonate pour violon et piano - Variations symphoniques
Symphonie - Sonate pour violon et piano - Variations symphoniquesCésar Franck; Pierre Monteux, Zino Francescatti, Robert Casadesus, Leon Fleisher, George Szell · 2015
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15Leon Fleisher, George Szell & The Cleveland Orchestra · 2016
Klavierkonzert Nr. 1, d-Moll, op. 15
Klavierkonzert Nr. 1, d-Moll, op. 15Brahms; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Klavierkonzert Nr. 2, B-Dur, op. 83
Klavierkonzert Nr. 2, B-Dur, op. 83Brahms; Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Klavierkonzert Nr. 3 & 5
Klavierkonzert Nr. 3 & 5Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Piano Concertos nos. 1-5
Piano Concertos nos. 1-5Ludwig van Beethoven; Leon Fleisher, George Szell, The Cleveland Orchestra
Variationen / Walzer
Variationen / WalzerBrahms; Leon Fleisher
Variations Symphoniques
Variations SymphoniquesCésar Franck; Leon Fleisher, The Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Source: MusicBrainz artist dc0d49cd-8afe-470f-936d-204ade81d537 (CC0).