Leon Fleisher Un pianiste légendaire / Leon Fleisher A legendary pianist

Montréal, le 15 septembre 2009 — C'est au légendaire pianiste américain Leon Fleisher que eXcentris a demandé d'inaugurer le volet classique avec ce premier Grand Concert Steinway. Accompagné de ses amis, les musiciens Michael Tree, Matt Haimovitz, Katherine Jacobson, Andy Simionescu, John Zirbel, Pam Frank, Dominic Painchaud et Young Hi Moon, Fleisher nous a orchestré deux soirées mémorables de musique de chambre, en solo sur son célèbre piano Chavy Chase, et à quatre mains. Des œuvres de Schumann, Bach, Dvorak et une interprétation du Quintette pour piano en F mineur de Brahms sont au programme.

Né en 1928, Leon Fleisher commence le piano à 4 ans, et devient un des plus jeunes virtuoses à bénéficier de l'enseignement d'Arthur Schnabel. Rapidement, il gagne une renommée internationale. À 37 ans, un accident neurologique le prive de la mobilité de deux doigts de sa main droite. Il entreprend alors les carrières de chef d'orchestre et d'enseignant, tout en développant un répertoire pour main gauche. En 2004, un traitement expérimental lui permet de recouvrer l'usage de ses doigts et d'enregistrer Two Hands, un album hautement acclamé qui fera l'objet d'un film documentaire nommé aux Oscar en 2006. En 2007, il reçoit le prix Kennedy Center Honors, qui confirme une carrière des plus grandioses, et ce, malgré l'adversité. Son programme pour 2009-2010 est particulièrement chargé; il sera entendu aux quatre coins de la planète en plus de poursuivre des engagements à titre d'enseignant, la transmission de son savoir étant chère à ses yeux.

Les 25 et 26 septembre 2009, à 19 h, dans notre toute nouvelle salle Cassavetes.

Le 26 septembre 2009, à midi, projection du documentaire Two Hands : The Leon Fleisher Story, en présence de l'artiste. Une conversation avec Leon Fleisher suivra la projection du film.

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Montreal — eXcentris has invited legendary American pianist to inaugurate its classical program with this first Grand Concert Steinway. Accompanied by his friends, musicians Michael Tree, Matt Haimovitz, Katherine Jacobson, Andy Simionescu, John Zirbel, Pam Frank, Dominic Painchaud and Young Hi Moon, Fleisher has arranged two memorable evenings of chamber music for us, solo on his famed Chavy Chase piano, and for four hands. The program will feature works by Schumann, Bach, Dvorak and an interpretation of Brahms' Piano Quintet in F Minor.

Born in 1928, Leon Fleisher started piano at the age of 4, becoming one of the youngest virtuosos to benefit from Arthur Schnabel's teaching. He would quickly establish an international reputation. At 37, a neurological disorder robbed him of the mobility of two fingers on his right hand. He then took to conducting and teaching, all the while developing a repertoire for the left hand. In 2004, an experimental treatment allowed him to recover the use of his fingers and to record Two Hands, a highly acclaimed album that became the subject of a documentary film nominated for an Oscar in 2006. In 2007, he received the Kennedy Center Honors Award, confirmation of a landmark career, even in the face of adversity. His 2009-2010 schedule is particularly jam-packed; he'll travel to the four corners of the globe to perform, all the while keeping up his teaching engagements, given the importance he places on passing on his wisdom.

September 25 and 26, 2009, at 7 p.m., in our brand new Cassavetes Room.

September 26, 2009, at noon: a screening of the documentary Two Hands: The Leon Fleisher Story, with the artist in attendance. The film will be followed by a conversation with Leon Fleisher.

Leon Fleisher : Un pianiste légendaire

Montréal — C'est au légendaire pianiste américain Leon Fleisher que eXcentris a demandé d'inaugurer le volet classique avec ce premier Grand Concert Steinway. Accompagné de ses amis, les musiciens Michael Tree, Matt Haimovitz, Katherine Jacobson, Andy Simionescu, John Zirbel, Pam Frank, Dominic Painchaud et Young Hi Moon, Fleisher nous a orchestré deux soirées mémorables de musique de chambre, en solo sur son célèbre piano Chavy Chase, et à quatre mains. Des œuvres de Schumann, Bach, Dvorak et une interprétation du Quintette pour piano en F mineur de Brahms sont au programme.

Né en 1928, Leon Fleisher commence le piano à 4 ans, et devient un des plus jeunes virtuoses à bénéficier de l'enseignement d'Arthur Schnabel. Rapidement, il gagne une renommée internationale. À 37 ans, un accident neurologique le prive de la mobilité de deux doigts de sa main droite. Il entreprend alors les carrières de chef d'orchestre et d'enseignant, tout en développant un répertoire pour main gauche. En 2004, un traitement expérimental lui permet de recouvrer l'usage de ses doigts et d'enregistrer Two Hands, un album hautement acclamé qui fera l'objet d'un film documentaire nommé aux Oscar en 2006. En 2007, il reçoit le prix Kennedy Center Honors, qui confirme une carrière des plus grandioses, et ce, malgré l'adversité. Son programme pour 2009-2010 est particulièrement chargé; il sera entendu aux quatre coins de la planète en plus de poursuivre des engagements à titre d'enseignant, la transmission de son savoir étant chère à ses yeux.

Les 25 et 26 septembre 2009, à 19 h, dans notre toute nouvelle salle Cassavetes.

Le 26 septembre 2009, à midi, projection du documentaire Two Hands : The Leon Fleisher Story, en présence de l'artiste. Une conversation avec Leon Fleisher suivra la projection du film.

Ce spectacle est une présentation de Yamaha Canada.

2009 filled with 'firsts' for legendary pianist Leon Fleisher

2009 FILLED WITH 'FIRSTS' IN PERFORMANCES AND RECORDINGS FOR LEGENDARY PIANIST LEON FLEISHER February 22: Fleisher Performs in 'new' Alice Tully Hall February 27: Tour with London Philharmonic Orchestra − Fleisher's First Appearance with the Orchestra since 1962 − Stops in New York City March 31: Fleisher's First Two-Hand Piano Concerto Recording in Over 40 Years To Be Released on Sony Classical "... a pianist with an individual cast of mind and much to say..." Paul DRIVER, The Sunday Times of London [Leon Fleisher at the unveiling of his portrait by artist Paul Wyse 12/9/08 at Steinway Hall, NY. The portrait is only the fourth painting to be added to Steinway's collection in the past three decades.] New York, NY — A fixture on the American music scene for more than six decades, pianist Leon Fleisher starts the New Year by releasing his first two-hand concerto recording in 40 years, with tour dates to support it. As a taste of things to come, Fleisher will perform at the 'new' Alice Tully Hall on February 22 as one of New York City's premier concert venues re-opens its door after a 22-month dramatic renovation. To kick off a two-week celebration, the Opening Nights Festival concert will feature Fleisher playing his signature piece Bach's Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor alongside celebrated colleagues in a program that ranges from 15th-century Sephardic music to Stravinsky to highlight the hall's artistic range. Fleisher will then join the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time since the remarkable revival of his career. He will tour the Mozart Piano Concerto K. 488 under the baton of one of the world's most sought-after conductors Vladimir Jurowski. Coming from LPO's very own London home − the refurbished Royal Festival Hall − on February 20, the tour will make two stops on the east coast: in Strathmore Hall on February 26 and Avery Fisher Hall in New York on February 27. This is in preview to Fleisher's new recording to be released March 31 on the Sony Classical label. His first two-hand piano concerto recording in 40 years, the release will be comprised of a trio of Mozart concertos recorded with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra: no. 23 in A Major, K. 488; no. 12 in A Major, K. 414; and no. 7 in F Major for two pianos, K. 242, for which he is joined by his wife Katherine Jacobson-Fleisher. Founded in 1945, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra has held a top position in the international orchestral world for more than 60 years. Under founder and director Karl Münchinger, the ensemble had developed and cultivated the repertoire of the Viennese Classicists. LEON FLEISHER was a student of the great Artur Schnabel, who studied with keyboard giant and pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky, a pupil of Carl Czerny, who in turn studied with Ludwig van Beethoven. Debuting with the New York Philharmonic in 1944 at the age of 16, Fleisher quickly established himself as one of the world's premier classical pianists, concertizing with every major orchestra and making numerous touchstone recordings. A year of celebratory performances in 2008 commemorating Leon Fleisher's 80th birthday saw his return to three of Europe's most prestigious musical capitals − London, Brussels and Lucerne − playing his first two-hand recitals there in over forty years to enthralled capacity audiences. Leon Fleisher received the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors and is the subject of the OSCAR and EMMY-nominated documentary film Two Hands. LPO DATES Friday, 20 February at 7:30 PM, Royal Festival Hall, London (UK) Thursday, February 26 at 8:00 PM, Music Centre at Strathmore (MD) Friday, February 27 at 8:00 PM, Avery Fisher Hall, (NY) PROGRAM Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead (London only) Mahler: Adagio from Symphony No.10 (Strathmore and New York only) Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K.488 Ligeti: Atmosphères (Strathmore and New York only) Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra For more information on Leon Fleisher or Boss Sounds, please contact Nell Mulderry (nell@bosssounds.com, 212-741-7959), or Widya Widjaja (widya@bosssounds.com, 212-741-7959).