Taught by renowned instructor
Leon Fleisher
Heir to seminal Beethoven interpreter Arthur Schnabel, the late Leon Fleisher's performances of the Beethoven Concerto cycle with George Szell has achieved legendary status alongside his teacher's Beethoven Sonata cycle. In this series of intimate master classes, Fleisher coaches tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude on three famous excerpts from Beethoven's oeuvre: the first movement of the Pathetique Sonata, the exposition of the Waldstein Sonata, and the opening phrase of the Fourth Concerto. Filmed in Fleisher's home in January 2020, just months before his passing.
"Waldstein" Sonata – 1st Mvt Exposition
The late Leon Fleisher, one of the great American pianists of the 20th century, presents a short master class on the iconic exposition of Beethoven's "Waldstein" Sonata with Ben Laude at the piano. Fleisher brings his characteristic conviction to matters of phrasing, voicing, rhythm, and pedal, in an effort to elevate Laude's playing and achieve a level of drama and excitement worthy of Beethoven's score.
Concerto No. 4 – Opening Phrase
Join legendary American pianist Leon Fleisher, as he gives a master class on the famous opening phrase of Beethoven's Fourth Concerto to tonebase Head of Piano, Benjamin Laude.
The first five bars revolutionized the piano concerto genre, as it marked the first time a concerto began with solo piano rather than an orchestral tutti. Though slow and technically simple, the phrase is notoriously difficult to interpret successfully.
Fleisher, who made one of the most celebrated recordings of the piece with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, breaks down the phrasing, voicing, and articulation of the passage in granular detail. He gives special attention to the opening chord and the rising scale that closes the phrase, employing both metaphor and specific practical direction to help Laude achieve a sense of magic and wonder in his interpretation.
"Pathetique" Sonata – 1st Mvt Exposition
Join legendary American pianist Leon Fleisher, as he gives a master class on Beethoven's 'Pathetique' Sonata to tonebase Head of Piano, Benjamin Laude.
Fleisher listens attentively to Laude's performance of the first movement, choosing to focus on his conception of the Exposition. First, Fleisher and Laude discuss the character of the Grave section – stern, austere, and deeply tragic. To capture this mood, Fleisher urges Laude to obey the strict 32nd-note pulse subdividing each beat in shaping each sub-phrase. To achieve the most suspenseful playing, rhythms should be played 'as late as possible, without being too late.'
In both Grave and Allegro con bio sections, Fleisher asks Laude to play with flatter fingers, such that the keys become almost an extension of the fingers. Avoiding a direct, downward attack takes the edge off the sound, and allows for a more ringing sonority. Finally, Fleisher shows Laude how to mimic the feeling of centrifugal force in a winding right-hand run by employing subtle crescendos and diminuendos as the line rises and falls.
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Unlock Course →A pupil of Schnabel and dubbed by Pierre Monteux as 'the pianistic find of the century,' Leon Fleisher sustained an extraordinary career as conductor, soloist, recitalist, chamber music artist, and teacher.
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