Gershwin's Concerto in F by O. Levant

from the movie "An American in Paris" based on compositions by George Gershwin.
pianist Oscar Levant in the role of a jobless concertmaster dreams about his performing 3rd Movement (Allegro Agitato) from Gershwin's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F Major"

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

Levant may have been a troubled man, but I am spellbound, every time I see him on film, and reminded just how extraordinary he was..Witty, talented, hugely under appreciated...wickedly funny...a fine writer...played killer piano..on and on.

[@obduliorincon6112]

Cynthia, Levant actualy performed the "in f concerto" ? or the scene above is just a "cover"?

[@Melodydawn51]

One of George Gershwin's best friends!!

[@scorpiodom6109]

I’ll build the stairway to Paradise I’ll build a stairway to paradise

[@sorellman]

Indeed, he was a troubled man with a great, merciless sense of humor in between painkillers and stints at mental institutions. Definitely a great pianist.

[@PathologicallyPositive]

@@obduliorincon6112 Yes he actually played it! I doubt anyone could have played it better at that time

[@Iloveflowers2024]

I flipping love Oscar Levant. Every time I see him in a movie, any scene he's in. I think he is just brilliant. His incredible piano playing, his attitude, his wit, the way he talks, and I think he's good looking too. I find him interesting, incredibly talented, attractive. It is sad to learn that he had personal struggles over the years. May he Rest in peace.

[@robertacolarette1594]

I always thought Oscar Levant was a giant on the piano. I just don’t know why he wasn’t more celebrated in his life.

[@AuntieMamie]

He actually did have a huge fan club. He just didn’t believe it

[@AuntieMamie]

Since I was in college I have had Levant worship. His brilliance matched his troubled mind. I have always felt sadness. But he had a wit like non other. There will be never be another. I hope he knew how loved he was. I’m glad he had an extremely devoted wife June. He and Gershwin were tight. I think he wanted to compose more. But he plays Gershwin how Gershwin wanted. I had a friend who knew them both. I’m 75 now and never stop loving them both.

[@AuntieMamie]

This is a scene from An American in Paris with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. I implore everyone to watch it.

[@anthonygumbrell5749]

Oscar Levant and George Gershwin was a match made in heaven.

[@georgemarshall3475]

Or Central Park

[@0restes]

Absolutely! What a pairing!

[@ellenmmartin]

I saw him play this live back in the 1950s in Grant Park, Chicago

[@tonygumbrell22]

@@ellenmmartin I grew up in Chicago but I was a little boy. We left in 1955 when I was 10.

[@prayersquad3391]

They WERE a match in heaven.

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

I grew grew up listening to this wonderful concerto. I'm now 84 so figure out how long this is! I still feel that Oscar Levant is the leading exponent of Gershwin's music. As an aside: My mother knew Gershwin and told him this was her favorite piece. "It's mine too," he responded.

[@Melodydawn51]

Wow! That's good to know - as time goes on, I love it even more!!

[@clotildegisou3077]

J,en suis folle !!! A 88 ans c,est toujours la meme decouverte il n,y a qu,Oscar levant pour jouer a ce rhytme ❤😂😢😢❤

[@vova47]

One of the greatest scenes in Hollywood cinema. Oscar Levant is a legend!

[@PaulZink]

One of the best parts of the film.

[@elwoodblues9613]

MGM was wise to break with their tradition and include this portion in "An American In Paris". Usually, films dub the music in, and the actors act like they're playing. This was no act! As a former piano player, I can see that Levant actually was playing this song as the cameras rolled. This footage captured the essence of Levant's piano playing, especially the Gershwin tunes. Such intensity. It's possibly the best video of Oscar Levant at the piano. "It's not a pretty face, but underneath this flabby exterior is a remarkable lack of character."

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Levant was so great. When you hear him play this, you hear all the wit and fire that his old friend Gershwin used to put into his own playing, plus a uniquely tempered technique and outlook that was all his own. His tempos are absolutely correct - that is how it should be done. I feel that his notorious bad behaviour was actually the result of sheer boredom with his time off, plus a deeply neurotic streak. Troubled, yes. Genius, yes. And yet with the wisdom to recognize it with a laugh.

[@barbj9785]

Levant was a genius. Gershwin is noted to say Levant played it better than he did.

[@skyemacallister1306]

The man is a genius! Always loved Oscar, and his caustic, biting wit!!! Thats what made Oscar, Oscar.

[@potatobrah0019]

I was like, "oh, this is completely normal" until the entire orchestra was just a bunch of Oscar Levants.

[@Mahjabiene]

I love this movie, because you can see three really talented artists, Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant, I always like movies, where you can see the work and the art and not only people who pretend to be an artist. When I first say this movie, I was so surprised to see such a great pianist in a movie. I hate films, where the actors play a musician without knowing anything of the instrument. In the film "Tous les matins du monde" it´s such a pity to see Gerard Depardieu play dumb and not Jordi Saval which is the real artist. I really love Oscar Levant, he is such a brilliant pianist, he was so cool in this movie, it´s such a pleasure to see him play in this movie and he was so cool and funny, such a great comedian. Of course I love Gene Kelly very much, but in this film, Oscar Levant was the real star of the movie!

[@megenberg8]

oscar gave a certain charm to the movie that made it a truly great film. the characters were all in paris finding their way artistically, which made everything fit! love it! : )

[@josephwarra5043]

Oscar Levant = Genuis. Period, end of sentence.

[@tuxguys]

Needed a dose of Levant tonight... this gave it to me. Oscar in his prime, before the booze and the pills took their toll... I have to assume that he was one of those universal geniuses that seemed to see the rest of the world in slo-mo... If you watch the insertion-shots carefully, you'll note that, on all the other instruments, he's really playing, or at least executing, the parts that you're hearing... and his conducting is accurate and, with no baton, reminiscent of Ormandy. Addendum: In this scene, at the end of his reverie, he gets off the bed, takes a bottle of Coke out of an ice bucket, and looks at the trademark as though he's examining the label, before he opens it.

[@GayPlaywright]

It is my understanding - from my 1970s correspondence with June Levant - that he played all of the musical parts himself.

[@j.ag.3537]

No baton was stokowski

[@tuxguys]

@@j.ag.3537 Not Stokowski alone... Exhibit A: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJm4hpl_edukf5I

[@ferociousgumby]

The more I watch this, the better it gets!

[@ryanh206]

My favorite part of 'An American in Paris'....so cool

[@CgGoil]

I am just beginning to learn about Oscar Levant. He could very well be one of the biggest musical geniuses, almost no one has never heard of..!! I am looking forward to diving into his career, because it seems very interesting!

[@larrydirtybird]

When I first saw this wonderful movie, I thought this scene was an annoying sidetrack from the plot and that it served no purpose. But watching here, isolated as it is, I see that it's a brilliant piece of cinema. He was so gifted.

[@BruceLevitan]

In some ways it seems an aside, but one of the key themes of AAIP is realising your dream: for Gene Kelly it was art, for Oscar Levant it was music. Gene went on to realise a different kind of dream (love) and one can fondly imagine that his mentor would have "picked up" Oscar as her next project so his dream would be realised too. Moreover, it was a normal device in musicals at this time to have fantasy sequences that simply showed off the artistry of the performer rather than move on the story.

[@yettikatz]

A breathless moment in the spider web of time and space. Oscar was one of a kind and incomparable. May his tortured Soul rest in peace and well-being and may he be blessed with all things good. Thanks for sharing this priceless reminder of his unforgettable expression of George's Masterpiece. Dr. Mel Preisz, a kindred spirit of both timeless men.

[@LenHummelChannel]

Mel Preisz I so agree. Both men were amazingly talented, and it is even more amazing how much Oscar accomplished, - and without the newly and regularly "prescribed drugs" that no one knew about back then !

[@louisemiller2774]

I love this guy.....he's funny and brilliant.

[@nemusarnax1875]

Unforgotable Oscar Levant!

[@alexanderperkins1238]

This movie scene might be the reason I wanted to learn piano back when I was a kid.

[@saldivincenzo3735]

This can be considered the FIRST music video. The editing is awesome. Levant was great on Jack Parr

[@scottgearhart8500]

Absolutely fantastic ! Levant was the doubtless the most incredible pianist of the 20th century. Gifted beyond description.

[@vladimirhorowitz]

Horowitz and Rubinstein are up there.

[@jsky21]

Thank you for sharing one of my favorite pianists on stage and in films. He could act too--often humorous.

[@edp2260]

Oscar Levant playing, plus the sight gags, make you THINK you just heard the whole Concerto in F (30 minutes long) rather that just 5 minutes of it.

[@SM-vw7pl]

A jaw dropping performance of an unreal composition. Wow!

[@teh_hunterer]

The only person I've ever seen play this properly, and it's in a movie!

[@windingroad9678]

Just awesome ❤

[@clairehoubert124]

a genius

[@Joey_Keys]

When he booked a concert, his mother would usually ask: not the Rhapsody again? Levant would later quip he was glad when Gershwin wrote the Concerto-“it doubled my repertoire”.

[@rozconniwestsand7841]

Geniuses are often troubled people, at least Levant handled all his talents with humor and didn't hide it.

[@ellenmmartin]

Thank you! This is such a wonderful and funny sequence, with Levant the neurotic solipsist dreaming his perfect concerto performance (and he was one helluva interpreter of this piece as you can see/hear).

[@johnnybronxo9311]

A true friend of George Gershwin an this small rendition of the Concerto in F just gives you a taste of the concerto, of course this was for the movie with G. Kelly "An American in Paris". As I minored in music during my years of education I feel in love with Gershwin. I find Levant as many have the obvious talent & genius for that he was. Oscar once put it "there is fine line between Genius & Insanity and I flirt with both". As a Gershwin fan, Oscar brings him back in his playing.

[@esmeephillips5888]

No, it was 'I have erased that line'.

[@RistrettoLPhkmb64]

I grew up with this motion picture. I love the brilliance of his playing and his coolness!

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

This is just too damn cool. Man, I loved this guy...

[@megenberg8]

absolutely!!!

[@megenberg8]

Ben Bernie Complete Sound Film 1945 - 1925 !!! guess who's on piano?

[@TheMoonchildiva]

I just love him, and I love this part, so glad you posted!

[@barbj9785]

Best version of Rhapsody. It was said Gershwin said in the 20s that Levant played it better than he did.

[@kagomehater4ever]

I love An American in Paris.

[@MarkBlackburnWPG]

And the Oscar for "Best Actor" (in a musical sequence) goes to . . . another OSCAR !! Raise your hand if you've ever watched AN AMERICAN IN PARIS all the way through, beginning-to-end. I confess I've only seen excerpts and highlights. Just watched a musical sequence that would have been my father's favorite. If you can spare four-and-one-half-minutes, you are in for a treat! I entered Levant's name at KZbin a moment ago: this was the first offering today -- with an informed description, “ . . . pianist Oscar Levant in the role of a jobless concertmaster dreams about his performing 3rd Movement (Allegro Agitato) from Gershwin's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F Major" [followed by this posted appreciation] Mahja Biene (3 years ago) "I love this movie, because you can see three really talented artists, Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant, I always like movies, where you can see the work and the art and not only people who pretend to be an artist. When I first saw this movie, I was so surprised to see such a great pianist in a movie. "I hate films where an actor plays a musician without knowing anything of the instrument. I really love Oscar Levant, he is such a brilliant pianist . . . it´s such a pleasure to see him play in this movie and he was so cool and funny, such a great comedian. Of course I love Gene Kelly very much, but in this film, Oscar Levant was the real star of the movie!" [Thanks, "LewQ" for posting] Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family.com -- Forums, "Siriusly Sinatra" folder; the thread titled, "My Favorite Versions -- Yours Too?" sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29/page7

[@q3mi4]

have you seen "By Strauss" from the same movie? that's my second favorite scene from the film, full of humour and music, but also very touching:)

[@MARIANSCATLIFFE]

So hauntingly beautiful

[@LenHummelChannel]

*The one & only Oscar levant performing the 3rd Movement (Allegro Agitato) from Gershwin's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F Major". a truly classic film clip.*

[@tmacart]

Fantastic...I recall seeing him on talk shows when I was a kid. Very talented, funny- yet with demons too!

[@LenHummelChannel]

This is my favorite portion of that great, GREAT timeless musical ! thanks for posting !

[@JustineWittich]

I grew up listening to and watching Levant in movies. He was born to play Gershwin, and Gershwin knew it. And his dry, acerbic wit. What a combination.

[@1tufboy]

Wow! That is REALLY "Allegro agitato"!

[@Joey_Keys]

He does take it a bit faster than most.

[@ferociousgumby]

Try watching this with the sound turned off. Somehow it's even more impressive to watch his hands without the music. Also, how gorgeous is that background with all the misty golden silhouettes!

[@kwixotic]

Quite often I'd see his TV show because my parents liked seeing him. On one of them he played the piano theme which I like so much, even more than "Rhapsody in Blue." But his unapologetic "no holds barred" honesty got him into trouble with the sponsors and he lost the job because he was too to handle.

[@kwixotic]

I should have said he played the introductory piano theme in this piece.

[@HaWkBeAtLeSnElSoN]

My dream piano piece :)

[@KidMusician]

Love it. I can not be that good even in my dreams.

[@gracewright7938]

I love Gershin and Oscar

[@raffaelevalentini9498]

....*Magnifico!* ☆☆☆☆☆ Grande Oscar Levant ☆ ●

[@steveflor9942]

Wonderful concept. Beautifully staged. Oscar is magnificent.

[@PiecesOfRainbow7]

Shame isn't it, there are so many Tragic Geniuses, too bright for their own good is how my mum puts it. WHen I think of self-destructive geniuses I always think of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. Lol. But Oscar was undoubtably a troubled genius. LOVE him.

[@ronwalker4849]

Nice to see a sense of humor in this video.

[@johnmerrick9591]

Really fascinating - what a fine pianist.

[@Varese13]

@nmitchell Levant was a very close friend of Gershwin (not to mention a composition student and friend of Arnold Schoenberg) and knew a thing or two about Gershwin tempos. As well, Gershwin's nervous 1920s and 1930s Jazz age works have little or nothing to do with calm and repose of the late forties and early fifties Jazz scene. I mean, we're talking the early Swing age, the age of the Lindy Hop, the Fox Trot, and early ideas of Latin music, et. al.

[@Joey_Keys]

Yep, I always check his versions when possible if I’m learning a Gershwin piece. Levant plays this movement a little faster than most.

[@susanjones7221]

Absolutely brilliant Oscar

[@f.pompeuroda3908]

How glamorous !! He is absolutely fabulous !!

[@katherinevignieri706]

Such a haunting melody

[@fslubin]

Paar -- "What do you do for exercise?" Levant -- "I stumble and fall into a coma."

[@kmakhlouf4387]

bah. Levant was so affected. Affected, narcissistic, addicted & vain but God knows men of his capability come once a century.

[@fslubin]

@@kmakhlouf4387 Sure -- he was a comedian. Every comedian is neurotic and an act. You don't think it's a defense mechanism par extraordinaire to have a felt need to see the world as funny?

[@oakroyal]

This Guy was good!!!

[@Kim-Ohio-Fuzz]

Juste Extraordinaire !!!

[@ferociousgumby]

Read A Talent for Genius, and break your heart.

[@dalehoward3704]

I'm watching That's Entertainment right now--he was brilliant!!!

[@seangelarden9543]

I don't know what it is about this piece but its my favorite.

[@susanlloyd7395]

"An American In Paris" is a great movie.

[@musicalme27]

Rest in peace, Oscar. You've deserved it.

[@bettygoodbody]

can you believe it, this magnificent artist was said by Liza Minnelli the daughter of Vincent and Judy Garland to have had bouts of depression and insecurity so he would camp out for days in the Minnelli living room . as wonderful as he was it's incredible he was still looking for more for better

[@hayleybartek8643]

The extremely gifted often have to trade in some normalcy. Them's the rules.

[@DancingAngelicR]

Wow!!!!

[@isuldur6]

Brilliant.

[@loveoldmovies2249]

thanks so much again for posting this

[@talecucce]

Wow...amazing!!!

[@AAWPiano]

I'm speechless...this is incredible! Thank you Patrick for sending this to me!

[@piano6861]

Thank-you for Patrick. I have performed this with orchesra myself, and would have loved to have heard this for inspiration! It's fantastic! Thanks for forwarding!

[@ferociousgumby]

Did anyone else notice he has green eyes (at the start)? His looks were not conventional but were a touch exotic. He seems to look different in every photo. Also, to those who might think so, he wasn't a drinker, but DID make up for it in vast amounts of prescription drugs. More Elvis than Dylan Thomas (I mean in choice of substance abuse).

[@pianomnn]

Here is a performance of the concerto with a synthesized orchestra! Mvt I kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmPGaZtpeKiUjtE Mvt II kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJzWiYGgnbBgftk Mvt III kzbin.info/www/bejne/haXLe3h4drqphpI

[@ЫРІ]

just read about him in "Harpo speaks", incredible man

[@alikisssa]

wonderful video, anyway. Thanks for posting

[@hildabusciglio]

oscar levant un pianista excelente que actuo en muchas peliculas

[@bvon44]

if you want to get it right from the "horse's mouth" Oscar has a biography of his own (one of three) known as "Memoris of an Amnesia," check your local library, that's where I got mine. If not Ebay is not a bad place to look but the book can be a bit expensive.

[@violatione]

I've listened to many youtube recordings of this. Are there any others that rival this in terms of speed, clarity and execution?

[@teh_hunterer]

No. I've looked, and 10 years later there just aren't/

[@Memale2009]

Gershwin et Levant étaient des artistes divins!

[@q3mi4]

@Ricaardoo92 yes, it is, not from the beginning, though. It's Movement 3, Allegro agitato.

[@DavilaAmor]

HA! I just rented that same book!

[@RToni]

that's ENTERTAINMENT

[@da96103]

How many instruments can you play? Levant: Yes

[@shemitch]

Oh the art of daydreaming!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

That's "Memoirs of an Amnesiac." He stole the title from a spoof biography by Erik Satie, but it's worth stealing. He's being brutally honest, but don't forget that he was above all else a showman, so you're only reading the juicy out-of-control bits of his life that he cares to show.

[@jameshare6690]

If only Lewis Black could play the piano, we'd have Oscar back.. :)

[@lesliecolyer_brown6208]

Funny!

[@alvaroloaiza2002]

I read that Ben Stiller is supposed to play the part of Oscar Levant in an upcoming movie.

[@kathrin-mariasamarrastehle6538]

💟💖

[@アリアーヌ]

こういう三枚目の役で上手い人、昔は結構いましたね。彼の演技は好きです。

[@WillScarlet16]

This is how I spent the pandemic, and... No, wait - I'm still doing it.

[@MrTrundleon]

Lewis Black meets Jack Webb...?! Damn, this guy could play a piano!!

[@arbycub]

@q3mi4 Yes, 3rd movement. It gets me in the mornings :)

[@unclejuniorsoprano]

OSCAR LEVANT DIED ON THIS DAY IN 1972. THE AMBULANCE MEN DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS.

[@blackwingy]

Yes, true-and they were fools!

[@elwoodblues9613]

If I remember right, he wanted his tombstone to say "I told you I was sick."

[@ilanpi]

Reminds me of Henry Orient

[@jamesfeldman4234]

"George, if you had to do it all over, would you fall in love with yourself again?” - Oscar Levant. Of course, Oscar also loved George Gershwin, but Oscar was a very funny guy as well as a terrific pianist.