Arthur Rubinstein and Eugene Ormandy-Leith Stevens Piano Concerto

This is one of my favorite 20th Century short Piano Concertos by an American composer, Leith Stevens.
I dedicate this Video to three wonderful lovely friends who enjoy my postings on KZbin, pianist Ivanova Veselinka from Bulgaria, Romanian activist Laura Stéfan, and Helen from Hong Kong.

[@kathleenanderson3060]

I've loved the movie-Night Song-and especially the Leith Stevens Piano Concerto for most of my life.Recently the movie became available on DVD.I think I first heard it as a child and now on my birthday,age 67,I watched it again.My heart still sings to hear that sad beautiful music once more.

[@oldgypsytap]

How wonderful...how refreshing....how satisfying, to see a film in which a fine piece of music is beautifully performed and is filmed in its entirety with no gimmicks, no fast cuts, no tricks. It's also great to be reminded of what great screen faces Dana Andrews and Merle Oberon possessed. Thank you for posting this gem.

[@vova47]

Rare pleasure to see these two giants in a movie clip. The beginning of a concerto could almost be a jazz ballad, akin to what Bill Evans or Ahmad Jamal might play.It is fascinating piece of music and it reminds us that Arthur Rubinstein was thoroughly modern pianist performing music of many new composers along with great classic masters,

[@stephenjoeagi]

Thank you for your lovely message young lady and Happy Birthday. I also enjoy listening to this beautiful concerto on my birthday today at 75. It is very romantic and suitable for this movie. The Rubinstein version is the best and I am glad that this video did not succumb to the copyright ax as many other beautiful videos have in the past and has survived three years on YT. Thank you for watching.

[@friskylamar]

The opening music from Destination Moon was used as theme music to our local horror movie show: Fantastic Features, complete w/host 'vampire' w/southern accent. So, everyone in Memphis, TN of a certain age knows Leith Stevens' score as the scariest music in the world. And it IS!!!!

[@NOSEhow2LIV]

Everyone seems on top form here, Rubi revelling in his lush piano part,plus vintage Ormandy with a luxury band,(the horns..!). This would have made it on to the typical "Warsaw Concerto" compilations if there'd been a Big Tune to knock em out. As it is, we can enjoy a fine piece of piano/orch writing with hints of Copland & Villa-Lobos. A brilliant period piece. Bravo for finding it.

[@Toppercat]

This is FANTASTIC! This is PRICELESS!!!

[@789armstrong]

Beautiful.Two great artists performing an extremely interesting work which sounds a bit like early Scriabin.

[@stephenjoeagi]

Very interesting comment. Thank you much. I suggested it (for performance) to a couple of my friends to no avail. It is also one of my favorite concertos, as well as the movie that contains some very interesting piano music by Leith Stevens. Another very modern, very interesting and almost never played, is the piano concerto of GK Menotti, a recording of which was given to me by the late great Yuri Boukoff, and which I have posted. After 2-3 hearings it grows on one and becomes a favorite.

[@mibelleson]

Thank you for posting this! I haven't heard this since I was in high school when I saw and fell in love with the movie for the first time when it was on late at night on AMC. I only have a recording of it on VHS, and I hope they release it on DVD as it's just a copy of when it was on tv.

[@snaaptaker]

Ahh! It's good to have this back on KZbin. Thank you, Stephen. This was on here last year, but apparently went missing for a while. You've brought it back with much better video and audio. It's been many decades since I last saw this movie, and I couldn't remember the title. Thank you for that, too. And it's always good to see Dana Andrews, Hoagy Carmichael, and, if I'm not mistaken, Olivia de Havilland.

[@MarianneAlkonost]

Amazing!!! Thank you so much for this video!!!!!!!

[@eltachimetro]

wow! is such a dramatic movement in my opinion, but its really unique from any other composer

[@biegel88]

This is great!!! Thanks to James Spencer for sharing this with me.

[@metoyermg]

I first saw night song and heard the concerto at the age of 10 or 11 years. I am now a senior citizen and I have been haunted ever since by it's poignant melody that gave life to the emotional movie plot. Heard it again 1st time in decades 2 weeks ago. Was just as powerfully effected as ever. Thanks for this treasure. I would like a recording of the full work. Any available?? candlefilly

[@stephenjoeagi]

Thank you. The actress was though, Merle Oberon.

[@jkircher314]

What film is this from? Thanks for posting it!

[@stephenjoeagi]

'Night Song'

[@stxer]

Does anyone happen to know what hall this was filmed in?