This is not really travel news, but it may be for me if he makes a public appearance that I can get to!

Formerly great pianist Leon Fleisher has been able to play again with two hands at age 76. Thanks to new drugs that reversed the problems with his right hand, Fleisher has recorded a new CD. I read where the album is entitled "Two Hands."

I think you would just about have to be my age or older to have heard him play live before a poorly understood ailment deprived him of the effective use of his right hand.

Some of the recordings featuring Fleisher, conductor George Szell, and the Cleveland Orchestra are truly outstanding.

I guess it goes to show that Yogi was right.
It ain't over til its over, and for Mr. Fleisher, it ain't over. He's back.
I think I can safely say that a legend has returned.

Not quite travel related, but....

There was actually a Times article on this a while ago -- in Arts and Leisure. I don't know if you read it.

I believe that one of the pieces on the new CD is the Schubert B-flat Sonata (D. 960). Fleisher said that he rerecorded it because his older recording contained a mistake (something like this). I've not heard either recording.

Actually I once went to a concert of his at Carnegie Hall. He played the Ravel Left Hand Concerto. I'm sorry to report that I fell asleep shortly, so I missed the entire performance.

Anyway, I've the Beethoven 1 and 2 with Szell on tape. I've been curious to hear the Brahms 1 with Szell, but I just haven't gotten around to it. I like Serkin/Szell in this, though Serkin, I guess, has his detractors.

Among American pianists who lost the use of their right hand, one can also count Gary Graffman and Byron Janis. I seem to recall that Janis was interviewed by ABC News a while ago (I missed the interview).

Of what I've heard from all three (prior to their various troubles), I've to say that my vote goes to Janis.

I should say that I never heard of the three live (before my time). And I guess Janis had trouble with both hands, it sounds like.

But Fleisher is playing a Mozart concerto for two pianos on Dec. 28 in Carnegie Hall:

http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/.../evt_4808.html

Played a solo recital in CH in Oct. 2003 (which includes Schubert's D. 960).

I should say that I never heard of the three live (before my time -- well, ok, Fleisher, I saw him on stage briefly before I fell asleep ). And I guess Janis had trouble with both hands, it sounds like.

But Fleisher is playing a Mozart concerto for two pianos on Dec. 28 in Carnegie Hall:

http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/.../evt_4808.html

Played a solo recital in CH in Oct. 2003 (which includes Schubert's D. 960).

NYT link here, but premium article --

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...A00894DC404482

Probably worth searching the web to see if a free version can still be found. It was a pretty interesting read.

Typing "Fleisher" into the NYT search box also brings up some reviews -- but I didn't read them.