Leon Fleisher was an American pianist, conductor, and music educator, born in San Francisco on July 23, 1928. He began giving concerts at the age of eight and made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic at 16.
Fleisher studied with several prominent American teachers, including Shura, Leonard, Johansen, and L. Altman, before studying with Artur Schnabel. At age ten, he spent about a year at Schnabel’s home on Lake Como and later continued lessons with him in the United States. Schnabel’s influence shaped Fleisher’s playing for many years; by around the age of 30, Fleisher had developed a more independent artistic style.
In 1952, Fleisher became the first pianist to win the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Focal dystonia later severely limited his use of his right hand. He continued to perform while teaching at the Peabody Conservatory and the Curtis Institute of Music, and served as artistic director of the Tanglewood Music Center from 1986 to 1997.
Fleisher also worked as a conductor, serving for a time as chief conductor of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and working with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His piano repertoire included works for the left hand, among them William Bolcom’s concerto for two pianos and orchestra, written for Fleisher and Gary Graffman, who had the same condition. Treatment with Botox injections restored the use of Fleisher’s right hand, and in 2004 he released his first recording of two-handed playing in 40 years. He died in Baltimore on August 2, 2020.