 | This montage from our Podcast Vault revisits a post from August 13, 2019. It can be found in our archives at https://archive.org/details/pcast320 |
=====================================================================
This selection from the Podcast Vault marks Left Hander’s Day, first celebrated on
13th August 1992 as an annual event when left-handers everywhere can celebrate
their sinistrality and increase public awareness of the advantages and
disadvantages of being left-handed. As our way of celebrating this event, I
programmed three piano works meant to be played by the left hand only.
The original commentary delves into the specific works, and
the injured pianists that inspired their composition. The filler material, also features a pianist who
for several years lost the use of his right hand. Leon Fleisher (1928 –2020)
was a well-established soloist and recording artist when, at the age of 36, he
lost the use of his right hand, due to a neurological condition that was
eventually diagnosed as focal dystonia. In 1967, Fleisher commenced performing
and recording the left-handed repertoire while searching for a cure for his
condition. His first choice was Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.[1] In
addition, he undertook conducting beginning in 1968, and became associate
conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1973, and music director of
the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. In the 1990s, Fleisher was able to ameliorate
his focal dystonia symptoms after experimental botox injections to the point
where he could play with both hands again.
The following is his 1993 Sony release “Leon Fleisher
Recital”.
I think you will (still) love this music too.
No comments:
Post a Comment