Over the course of his incredible life and career, Leon Fleisher, like Beethoven proved to the world that expression emanates from within and can manifest regardless of limitation. He also showed us that, when faced with a seemingly impossible personal hurdle or tragedy, selflessness rather than selfishness will help carry you through it.
Fleisher recorded Schubert’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960 twice. Once at the beginning of his career, at age 28, and one near the end, at age 78. During this fifty year time span, Fleisher lost and regained the ability to use his right hand. And yet when one hears these recordings in succession, one doesn’t hear this ailment. One only hears the experience of a live well-lived.
Here are both albums in their entirety.