Fleisher On the Record
Stories of musical triumph over adversity don't come much more dramatic than that of Leon Fleisher's. A child prodigy, he was performing with the New York Philharmonic by age 16. But after completing a masterful series of recordings with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, Fleisher lost the use of his right hand due to focal dystonia - a neurologic disorder causing muscles to twist and contract. Over the following decades, he sought out treatment while maintaining a busy musical career performing one-handed repertoire and taking up conducting. Recently, through the miracles of modern medicine, Fleisher is back performing two-handed repertoire and arrives in Phoenix this weekend to perform Beethoven's mighty "Emperor" concerto. Arizona Republic music critic, Richard Nilsen, had a chance to talk with Fleisher about his amazing musical career and story:Q: Has 30 years of physical travail deepened your understanding of the music?
A: Most probably, I would think, but like any other life experience. It's just another source to draw on for examination and contemplation. One hopes one's insights deepen and maybe see things you didn't.
Q: Is music about something, or is it just a pleasant arrangement of notes?
A: It's an access to a higher level of awareness, which has a tendency to expand us and give us access to experiences that are not particularly available to us in the course of our daily lives, and becomes more inaccessible as technology and consumerist society evolve.
1 Comments:
Leon Fleisher was my introduction to Beethoven, in the Emporer with Szell. I wore that old Epic recording out many, many years ago. And here he is again, playing the Emporer. It's possible that I'll never get to hear him play it again, so thank you Mr. Fleisher, for 45 years of wonderful memories. And thank you for taking Korngold and Franz Schmidt seriously in the smashing recoring of their chamber music.
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