J.S. Bach: Capriccio in B-flat Major ?On The Departure of a Brother,? BWV 992 - Arioso: Adagio - His friends try to persuade him not to undertake the journey. 2:07
Fughetta - They tell him of the various misfortunes that may befall him abroad. 1:08
Adagissimo - The general lament of his friends. 2:57
Andante - His friends come, since they see that it must be, and take leave of him. :23
Postilion?s Aria: Allegro poco - 1:20
Fugue in imitation of the posthorn - 2:14
Mozart: Sonata in E-flat Major, K. 282 - Adagio - 7:48
Menuetto I-II - 4:26
Allegro - 3:01
J.S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 - Fantasy - 7:40
Fugue - 4:46
Chopin: Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57 - 4:53
Stravinsky: Serenade in A - Hymne - 3:43
Romanza - 3:16
Rondoletto - 2:50
Cadenza finala - 3:50
Beethoven: Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor ?Für Elise,? WoO.59 - 3:32
Track Listings (1) - Disc #2
Bob Edwards Interviews Leon Fleisher on XM Radio's The Bob Edwards Show
Special 2 disc set! (In addition to the album cd and an interview disc, a free Vanguard Classics sampler will be included in an initial Limited Edition run.) "The Journey" is the follow up to Leon Fleisher?s extraordinary... more » Vanguard Classics release "Two Hands." Where "Two Hands" chronicled Fleisher?s triumphant return to performing two-handed repertoire after 35 years, "The Journey" tells the rest of the story. The works performed on "The Journey" are the pieces of music that Fleisher was preparing to perform in solo recitals at the time that dystonia began to affect his performing career in the early 1960?s. "The Journey" matches solo piano works rarely recorded, like Stravinsky?s 'Serenade in A,' with the beautiful, melancholy touch that Leon Fleisher brings to popular works such as Chopin?s 'Berceuse' and Beethoven?s 'Für Elise.' The technical ability of a great pianist meets the poetic touch of a master in Bach?s 'Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue' and Mozart?s 'Sonata in E flat,' K. 272. Mr. Fleisher is interviewed on Disc Two by Bob Edwards of XM Radio's 'The Bob Edwards Show.'« less
Special 2 disc set! (In addition to the album cd and an interview disc, a free Vanguard Classics sampler will be included in an initial Limited Edition run.) "The Journey" is the follow up to Leon Fleisher?s extraordinary Vanguard Classics release "Two Hands." Where "Two Hands" chronicled Fleisher?s triumphant return to performing two-handed repertoire after 35 years, "The Journey" tells the rest of the story. The works performed on "The Journey" are the pieces of music that Fleisher was preparing to perform in solo recitals at the time that dystonia began to affect his performing career in the early 1960?s. "The Journey" matches solo piano works rarely recorded, like Stravinsky?s 'Serenade in A,' with the beautiful, melancholy touch that Leon Fleisher brings to popular works such as Chopin?s 'Berceuse' and Beethoven?s 'Für Elise.' The technical ability of a great pianist meets the poetic touch of a master in Bach?s 'Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue' and Mozart?s 'Sonata in E flat,' K. 272. Mr. Fleisher is interviewed on Disc Two by Bob Edwards of XM Radio's 'The Bob Edwards Show.'
CD Reviews
A worthy successor to "Two Hands"!
SwissDave | Switzerland | 10/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Glad to note the recording's just that touch less distant and reverberant than "Two Hands" (far from dry!) that makes this sound so much like Fleisher does in concert, if closer, perhaps more ideally intimate than in real life. If anything Fleisher's playing now sounds even more technically secure again (jaw-dropping, actually, given his life "journey"), musically of course, I've become so partial to anything he's recorded at any stage in his career, I dare not say much: I can see why one critic has already referred to his interpretation of Mozart's K. 282 Sonata as "fussy" - it is indeed intricately detailed. So what? The better the stereo system one uses to listen to this, the more it becomes apparent no grace note's running against the flow - nothing wrong with seeing old warehorses in a new light, or is there? As to the Bach pieces, comparing the 'Traumatic' (!) Fantasy and Fugue to recordings by Edwin Fischer and Wilhelm Kempff (live on BBC Legends), I can only say that hearing it in another great interpretation is again improving my appreciation of what has always been some of the most fascinating, if never the easiest Bach to me to fully grasp. It's fascinating that Fleisher manages once again (as on "Two Hands") to set a mood for the whole disc (right away with Bach's "Arioso: Adagio" from the "On the Departure of a Brother" Capriccio, the whole of which he plays with genuine simplicity) and yet give each of these diverse compositions its due. The Bagatelle wrongly titled "Für Elise" receives one of its finest interpretations here (right now comparing it to Bruce Hungerford's more "daring" reading), for example. As happens to me so often with Fleisher, I'm also increasingly impressed with Stravinsky's Serenade, a piece I may so far not have taken seriously enough. In short, the riches here are once again far too many to enumerate...
Greetings from Switzerland, David."
Overall sublime, some drawbacks, but still rates a 5
Patrick D. Goonan | Pleasanton, CA | 12/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love Leon Fleisher for his lyrical interpretations of Bach and his amazing ability to perform Chopin. On this particular album there is a lot of Bach and a taste of Chopin. The Chopin is very reminiscent of Arthur Rubenstein and this is something I like very much about this artist.
In general, Fleisher brings an amazing sensitivity to his piano playing whatever the particular piece. His tone is simply gorgeous and it really shines through on every piece. Playing Mozart is not necessarily his strength, but this album does not devote a lot of time to this composer. His interpretations of Beethoven and Stravinsky are very well done.
Fleisher is certainly not a minor player on the concert stage even after his extensive layoff. Both this album and "Two Hands" are excellent even if you have recordings all of these pieces already. I play the piano seriously myself and I am thoroughly satisfied with this purchase."
Leon has another fantastic recording
Richard L. Kendrick | central PA | 01/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Unfortunately I didn't know of Fleisher until I purchased his first recording using both hands since his physical improvement. This follows in that he has that wonderful phraseology that is not the usual and every note is given its due, not just skimmed over. Really loved the recordings."
Life Affirming Journey through fascinating repertoire
Scriabinmahler | UK | 04/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
This 2CD set includes interesting interview with Fleisher talking about each piece recorded here, about his hand injury and his life in general. He says, dystonia gave him an opportunity to widen his horizon and enriched his life through his journey of new discoveries.
Each piece on this disc reflects that positive, life affirming view, and is filled with the pure joy of music making. I like particularly Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue and Capriccio in B-flat "On The Departure of a Brother," played with sublime simplicity, and Chopin's Berceuse played with incredibly subtle rubato and tonal intricacy. Acoustics has improved a lot compared to The Two Hands. Stravinsky's kaleidoscopic piano music is very interesting and superbly played."
A memorable recording by Leon Fleisher
Vera Kolb | Kenosha, WI | 07/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"People who are six feet tall or taller have no business coming to the concert halls, other than as performers (c.f. Garrick Ohlsson) or as occupants of the last row of the seats. This was my central thought as one such tall person blocked my view of the Leon Fleisher on the stage of the Martin Theater in Ravinia. After some left-to-right neck gymnastics, I was able to create the favorable composite view of Fleisher and then enjoy his music fully.
His playing is gentle and never harsh, deep in musical feelings and extraordinarily beautiful. This great maestro knows how to find the way to your musical heart. After the concert, I rushed to have the Fleisher's record, which is the record I am now reviewing, signed by the maestro. For those of you out there who do not have the proper technique how to get the records signed, I disclose my proven method. Firstly, get the record ahead of time, at the latest during the concert intermission, but never after the end of the concert. I got the record in the Ravinia gift shop way before the concert. Then, ladies and gentlemen, after the concert please exercise some bladder control, and do not waste precious time going to the restroom. Instead, rush immediately to the signing site (in this case it was in the front of the Ravinia gift shop). That way you will be in the front of the long line of the fans who are just dying to get that signature on the records they are clutching possessively in their hands. Do not try to prepare some speech for the maestro; the speech will evaporate from your brain the moment the maestro looks at you. At that time you are going to say something very stupid. But, I guess, the great maestros are like doctors: they have heard it all!
This long introduction tells how I got this record. I listened to it immediately, still under the influence of the Fleisher's concert. The record starts with Bach's "On the Departure of a Brother". How one cannot love Bach, and especially when Fleisher plays with so much gentleness, finesse and feelings? The Mozart sonata in E-flat Major, K. 282, follows. It is beautiful. I wonder why it is not performed more often. Fleisher further plays the Chopin's Berceuse, the most extraordinary Stravinsky's Serenade in A, which made me seriously like Stravinsky, Beethoven's "Fur Elise", which one cannot ever get tired of and which sounds so special when Fleisher is playing with deceiving simplicity. There is another CD, in which Bob Edwards interviews Fleisher. This interview is an event. Firstly, Fleisher talks about the music that he played for the recording. He sings and hums, and offers an account of why he likes this particular music. He also talks about the condition of his right hand, which, while not completely healed, enables him to play the piano with both hands. Fleisher is non-assuming, witty, and just a very nice person. When you hear this interview, you will feel relieved. Yes, here is this great celebrity, but he seems so nice and "normal" that you would not mind having a beer with him. At that time you could share with the maestro your own carpal tunnel misfortunes (there would be no point of you sharing your miniscule musical fortunes with Fleisher).
I most strongly recommend this recording, which you will enjoy over and over again.
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1