Brahms: Piano Concerto n.1 op.15 - Leon Fleisher - 1st Mvt. (Part 1)

[@devitry67]

My respects to Mr. Leon Fleisher, he is one of the greatest pianists ever. Poetry infuses every note and phrase of this beautiful version!!!

[@tomfay5484]

For me, as Fleisher began to play, I heard a cosmic connection between this music and the life of all of us, a connection from Brahms soul and the moment that soul connected to Fleisher's fingers and then connected to the Leon Fleisher's life, and then to us all. There was humor, humanity, tragedy and triumph: a beautiful experience--even on KZbin!

[@riabrezova8682]

R.I.P. Maestro Leon Fleisher! (July 23, 1928 - August 2, 2020)

[@adriancook7078]

you hear Barenboim and nothing happens. You hear this guy and your soul is filled with ........ heaven.

[@nancyreese80]

So true!

[@MrFpam]

RIP Leon Fleisher ; died yesterday aged 92.

[@bandchick888]

he teaches at my school! everytime we see him in the hallways we all kind of stop in awe

[@eoatz]

Haha hi Sarah! Just found this :)

[@MrKlemps]

Olvandi99: There is NOTHING embarrassing about this performance. It comes closer to revealing the mind and heart of the composer than any other, save possibly for those of R. Serkin. If you find a few wrong notes "embarrassing," you are too delicate for this world.

[@danielcottle6238]

I first heard Leon Flescher when I was 10 years old way back in 1964, in a recording of the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganinni, and also the Ravel Alvorado del Graciosa. It completely blew me away and he was a pianistic hero of mine for years. One of my former piano teachers studied with him and once described how during a lesson he would forget and demonstrate something with his right hand, and how painful it was for him. This is bravery and dedication to his art.

[@margheritagalasso947]

To face the horror and remain pure, willing, loving, fierce and stoic. I love this man like no other in the world. ❤

[@bastiatintheandes4958]

Love the poster of this marvel for giving credit to the oboist and the flute player. Of course Fleisher is one of the wonders of high piano playing.

[@drtmuir]

This is the most magical of all first entrances for the soloist, and Fleischer's rendering is sublime. ❤️❤️❤️

[@buddysgirl3]

@SamuelConcepcion Focal Dystonia is not surgically treatable. And, he did treat it ....that's why he's able to play once again. He's very fortunate! Some focal dystonia patients barely recover enough to return to quality of life, let alone a career. Focal Dystonia can happen anywhere in the body. It is a neurological disorder and is extremely difficult to treat effectively. My hat goes off to Mr. Fleisher for his perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. He is an inspiration to many!

[@777rogerf]

He regained some use of his fingers through a deep-tissued physical therapy technique developed by Ida Rolf (often termed "Rolfing")

[@JordiFranchParella]

The effects of the focal dystonia on the right hand (me suffering one as well) shiver me.

[@devitry67]

God bless you Mr. Fleisher.

[@Roberto6474]

I've know Leon Fleisher since 1050, when I first met him in Cleveland, on those glorious days when he was recording with the orchestra, conducted by Szell... a colleague of my father, Leonard Shure, and dear friend of mine for all of these years.............. Leon continues to be one of the greatest pianists AND musicians of the 20th century.. his depth and soul are incomparable.....May God keep him for still a long time to come............Robert Shure

[@class87srule]

That's a long time.

[@Bobowobo]

My teacher was a student of your fathers!

[@grouchocatman]

His performances with George Szell are rightfully legendary. Great to hear him again. I believe the Fabbrini piano is a customized Steinway (Hamburg).

[@jonathanc1026]

he is my teacher's teacher. i have met him. he's amazing

[@methodearc-en-ciel3564]

A 3:58 c'est absolument sublime, un des plus grands chefs-d'oeuvre de toute l'histoire de l'humanité... 🌟🌟🌟

[@donkgated8074]

Today I just found out what piano Fleisher's actually playing here - Steinway customised by an Italian technician named Angelo Fabbrini (the name we see on the side of the piano here). Maurizio Pollini's concerts typically feature his Hamburg Steinway customised by Fabbrini. Worth a read if you are interested in piano sounds!

[@pmay0922]

I heard Mr. Fleisher play this concerto during the same period, and I kept thinking what courage it must have taken to do it. The experience moved me more than the performance itself (which was wonderful).

[@siegfriedstark]

An incredible artist displaying a complete mastership at the height of his SEVENTY years of age, with an appearance, so to say, of at least TWENTY YEARS younger! Such a LION was Maestro Leon Fleischer!!!!!!

[@adriancook7078]

Did anyone realise Maestro Fleischer has the music on the lid of the piano and you can actually see him turn a page from time to time. Interesting n'est ce pas ? But what a simple beautiful clear touching sound. So clean and pure and SINCERE. Lovely great man and pianist

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

This is the most painful piano concerto of the whole repertoire. Sorrow, pain, depression, nostalgy, frustration to the most utter limit, obsession, fantasies out the wildest kind, melancholy, helplessness, and despair. Clara. The whole toxic and beautiful stuff made by our poor friend Johannes. But the question is : why is this the love of Leon since 40 years ?

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

@Drosophila Melanogaster Yes, Gelber is very good, especially in the third movement. (I'm smoking big cigars too, like you and Schnabel)

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

It appears to me that he curls the fingers of his RH in order to rest them and maybe relieve the tension that accumulates over the passagework. He's found a way to work with the condition. Regardless, it is a monumental performance. I admire his bravery at programming a piece that sometimes crushes lesser peers.

[@James_Bowie]

"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. He regained some control of his right hand then, and played and recorded two-hand repertoire. "

[@lovecumsue]

R.I.P. Master Leon Fleisher

[@dizzyology7514]

Fleisher's interpretation of the second theme (6:45 to 8:00) is unique and famous. In 2010, when they were jointly teaching a workshop on Brahms chamber music at Carnegie Hall, Fleisher was (without warning) asked by Yo-Yo Ma to play that passage to illustrate to the students the way he uses timing and rhythm to underline the intervals in the music. After a bit of joking over whether he could remember the passage, Fleisher obliged, with Ma pointing out what he was doing. It's impressive that the totally unrehearsed impromptu performance was almost identical to this rendition, which took place twelve years earlier. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWq3dZ-Ppp5osM0

[@donkgated8074]

I played the orchestral piano for a classmate playing in Fleisher's masterclass of this entire Brahms Concerto over 3 sessions. I can also attest that his otherworldly approaches to timing and phrasing are very much reflected in these classes.

[@raoul3605]

a masterpiece

[@adriancook7078]

such a fine pianist. I have a private lesson with him once on the pathetiue sonata. Such a kind and grand pianist. Why do the greats have to suffer ?

[@andymilstenmusic8520]

Adrian Cook You know he died recently...😭😭😭😭

[@DonnaSilvia]

@jonathanc1026 His piano playing is so splendid and sensitive !!! It's easy to understand why he has been one of the best Schnabel's last students. Please, can you tell me about his lessons and how to contact him? Is he still in active with his teaching? Thanks a lot in advance.

[@mkeysou812]

Form is temporary, class is permanent

[@KaisarAnvar]

Rest In Peace 😭😭😭😭

[@markchiang3449]

I miss you. ❤❤❤🍷🍷🍷

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

7:01 ............ maximal tension and pain

[@perecasan6284]

En recuerdo del maestro recientemente fallecido.

[@takehase9896]

btw the up-down bowing for "D-F" in the theme is definitely inappropriate.

[@MrInterestingthings]

How did Brahms come up with such an (Ihate to use this word because of all the film type yahoos) epic main theme for his 1st subject unlike the very common overbloated too grandiose "Romantic Era " themes trying or aimimg to be larger than life heroic or magnificent . Equally amazing is that gorgeous piano entrance ! If anyone can tell me of another great bigmusic theme I would love to know . My knowledge is not encyclopedic SaintSaens 1 has a simplicity and fine grandeur too . Rubinstein4 ,Macdowell and another 2 hundred of that era tried and failed though much good or entertaining music came out of the endeavor .

[@codainhanh5767]

Super

[@thatp06]

@caoyudong Same here. To me, it sounds as if after some heroic struggle, a measure of equilibrium, a self-contented state, has returned.. But that is short-lived...

[@gliu]

Love the wink at 0:04

[@geertdehoux]

@buddysgirl3 I've been writing down all kind of thoughts about piano playing during those 25 years, which nowadays results in a book of nearly 800 pages. Only for the last 6 months I've allowed myself a break, away from the piano. What is VERY important, is that one knows what one CAN still play and what one CANNOT play anymore. Then, certain things one can play at home, but one should never take the risk of willing to perform them in public. Regards, Geert Dehoux, pianist (Belgium).

[@daniloogrisek8246]

Massimo livello

[@bernardcaplan4496]

What orchestra & who is the conductor?

[@KEIGOTSUJINO]

I want to know that too . Great performance .

[@kristoferfir]

so good i could die

[@caoyudong]

My favourite part starts from 6:45

[@motousami]

Does anyone know what it says on the side of the piano?

[@jamaicanpianistcomposer]

I think it's Fabbrini; a form of Hamburg Steinway-piano

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

Blablablablah . . . the best things I have done in my life were when taking the risk to do something I judged myself as impossible .

[@geertdehoux]

@Roberto6474 Dear Sir, I just left you a note on your father's very musical performance of Schumann's Fantasy. I also left a reaction on @buddysgirl3 on this video. Kindest regards, Geert Dehoux.

[@rogerricardo7049]

4:44 Bach

[@loboris1995]

If you want a cleaner performance of his Brahms:just buy the 5 his box set (sony).Whoever I do love Fleisher,but the Orchestra is just to soft,and they don't have the "focal Dystonia"in my knowlage :P

[@geertdehoux]

@buddysgirl3 Interesting, your comment. As I've suffered from focal dystonia myself too for the last 25 years, I know what it is and how easily people (even 'great' pianists like Ciccolini and Volodos) call it "imagination", "a psychological problem", "lack of responsability" and so on. Four years ago, I made a video recording of some pieces in Bangkok (which can be found on KZbin). Apart from some private recordings in the 90s, it's the only thing I've been able to do in the last 20 y.

[@Nakestra]

Wow this version my God is amazing 😲

[@adriancook7078]

Why didn't he play on a steinway ? When Leon plays on a steinway you cry

[@MaScalo_MuSic]

THAT PIANO IS A STEINWAY, MASTERFULLY MODIFIED (SLIGHTLY) AND TUNED BY ANGELO FABBRINI

[@fugueholic]

omg...what happened on mr Fleisher!

[@fugueholic]

...In 1964, Fleisher lost the use of his right hand, due to a condition that was eventually diagnosed as focal dystonia. - Wikipedia, "Leon Fleisher" I got it. I searched right before and understood as much. God bless him.

[@Roberto6474]

Meant 1950, sorry

[@ernieragogini3994]

Where is Part 2? Are you kidding? This is a travesty.

[@sarivanul]

I’m here after reading “Musicophilia”

[@raoul3605]

music is the only place where i can be alone, it seems

[@bernardrose9283]

Raoul Akhtar of

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

The whole thing completely dramatic .................. and even worse than that ................ thank you , M. Fleisher ....

[@prongated]

@11:11 Oh shit...why...

[@veramalone89]

Brahms opus 59

[@James_Bowie]

Foster is way too animated. Reminds me of the Energizer Bunny. God help anyone in the path of that baton if he loses hold of it..

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

brahms first concerto only ones who can give color are radu lupu rubinstein and gilels

[@dankg55]

d2d4e6 zimerman !!!

[@KaisarAnvar]

Orchestra wasn't at his level at all.

[@pepperco100]

I blame the sound/recording engineer in large part for the poor sound of the orchestra.

[@chillywilly829]

wait why does he have the score in front of him?

[@PhilRamsey445]

Wait why are you such a moron?

[@Olvandi99]

4:45?? fail.... that's embarassing...

[@PhilRamsey445]

Your ugly face is embarrassing. Fleisher is able to play a very demanding piece with an ailment in his right hand. What can you do?

[@ernieragogini3994]

The body of work he produced in a month you could never have in a lifetime. This performance was a struggle for him. Sad that through it all, you cannot recognize genius and musicianship. Your comment.......fail!!! That’s embarrassing.

[@SamuelConcepcion]

If he had hand problems, he should have had it surgically treated - that's why we have hand surgeon specialists out there!

[@pamos1949]

You're a bit too certain of yourself. Focal Dystonia is NOT treatable via surgery. An awful lot of musicians and others with the affliction could tell you that. Or you could learn about Google.

[@ernieragogini3994]

@@pamos1949I studied with Mr. Fleisher for several years, got to know him pretty well……a man not only of inimitable gifts, but kind. Through his ordeal with focal dystopia must have been devastating. Yet he navigated, built a career as conductor and again pianist. Surgery would not have been enough even remote remedy to the issue. To make such a statement is reprehensible. We do NOT have hand surgeons out there for every purpose related to the hands. @pamos1949 responded to you kindly. I cannot print my response to you.

[@ernieragogini3994]

My apologies to pamos1949. The response was intended for SamuelConcepcion. My inattentive response was knee jerk. I should have known better. Truly sorry @pamos1949