Raymond Lewenthal - a neglected 20th century piano virtuoso?

[thesixthsensemusic]

This man was a brilliant pianist IMHO, he posessed an extremely well-developed technique, required to play the most difficult pieces of the piano repertoire, as he proved in his recordings of long forgotten works by Thalberg and Alkan. He was, being a pupil of Alfred Cortot, also a great musical poet, who had so much control over his tone colour that he could make the piano sound like a symphony orchestra.

It's just by chance that I came across his recordings, when I YT searched for a recording of Liszt's 'Hexameron' and decided I'd not listen Horowitz's but someone else's... below is a few recordings including the Hexameron. I sincerely believe this man should be recognised as one of the great pianists of the 20th century. Just see and judge for yourself

[naturlaut]

Totally agreed!

[evitaevita]

Thank you!
I've listened to some of his recordings, but I didn't really pay attention... 
I really liked Festin d'Escope and Totentanz. 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

In addition to his Alkan, his Henselt and Scharwenka concerti are well worth a listen.

Incidentally, the "Horowitz" Hexameron is a fake. It's Leslie Howard, speeded up by varying amounts throughout the recording.

[j_menz]

It is indeed a shame that he was forced from the concert stage for many years after his hands were injured in a mugging.  On his return, his repertoire appears to have been largely in the relatively more obscure end of the repertoire - some of which he has been instrumental in reviving. We all owe him a great debt, and one can anly hope he does become better known as this repertoire gains greater currency.

Aside from his piano playing, he also edited a collection called "Encores of Famous Pianists", which I am fortunate to own.  It is, I believe, out of print now but if you are lucky enough to come across a second hand one, snap it up - it is an exceptionally well edited version of many pieces difficult to obtain elsewhere.

[naturlaut]

Aside from his piano playing, he also edited a collection called "Encores of Famous Pianists", which I am fortunate to own.  It is, I believe, out of print now but if you are lucky enough to come across a second hand one, snap it up - it is an exceptionally well edited version of many pieces difficult to obtain elsewhere.

Thanks J about the Encores collection.  Didn't know about that.  What are the pieces in that collection?

For years I listened to all of his Alkan on LP, and they are really incomparable.  He also wrote a Concert Paraphrase to Gliere's Russian Sailor Dance, which is an awesome showpiece.  The Toccata alla Scarlatti (slightly easier to play) is pretty cool too. 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I'm not sure how I forgot about this when commenting before. I uploaded his famous mammoth WBAI radio talk on Alkan some years back; it will certainly be of interest to some.

[j_menz]

What are the pieces in that collection?

I'll try and scan the contents page over the weekend.

[stoudemirestat]

His performance of Liszt's Norma Fantasy is one of my favourites, if not my very favourite of the piece (one that I love).

[thesixthsensemusic]

Nice to see so much positive response here!
@ j_menz
Nice one! I wonder, did he add loads of footnotes regarding technical issues, in these Encores? If so, I reckon they are extremely useful, right? I don't know if you heard the radio interviews he gave with David Dubal?

I used to be a huge Discovery Channel fan back in my childhood but these interviews are at least as interesting to listen to for us piano enthousiasts. He was not just a great pianist but also a very inspiring and witty person. For example, he advises every piano student to experience Italian opera, Lieder, early Baroque music (Palestrina, Monteverdi) and to check for interesting sheet music to study from by checking out which stuff by famous composers you DON'T know recordings of.

Here another recording of his which I really like.

(Schumann's one is about 10 years youngger, which makes me wonder if this one was it's inspiration)

[j_menz]

@ j_menz
Nice one! I wonder, did he add loads of footnotes regarding technical issues, in these Encores? If so, I reckon they are extremely useful, right?

Haha, I so usually ignore footnotes.  I don't think there are many.  There's a fascinating essay at the start, though, on encores.

I'll look forward to listening to those YT links when I get the chance. 

[thesixthsensemusic]

Too bad, I hoped he would have offered some technical advise on how to master these encores, just like his teacher Cortot did with the Chopin and Liszt piano works.

According to one of these radio interviews with David Dubal he started playing the piano aged 15 and by the age of 17 mastered Chopin's B-flat minor Scherzo, Brahms' Händel Variations, and the 13th Beethoven sonata. He must have found a very effective way to train technique, me thinks...

Are you familiar with the Alkan collection he edited for Schirmer, by any chance? I suppose it could be interesting for you...

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Are you familiar with the Alkan collection he edited for Schirmer, by any chance? I suppose it could be interesting for you...

I've seen these, though I don't have them. Full of interesting notes, opinions and practice suggestions.

[j_menz]

OK, contents of the Encores book:

Beethoven - Polonaise Op89
Beethoven - Eccosaises
Beethoven/Busoni Eccosaises
Borodin - Scherzo
Busoni - Turandots Frauengemarch (Greensleeves)
Chaminade - Autrefois (Other Days) Op 87 No 4
Clementi - Finale from Sonata in Bb Op 47 No 2
Czerny - Etude in Ab Op 740 No 33
Delibes - Passepeid from "Le Roi l'a dit"
Delibes/Joseffy - Pizzicati (Pizzicata Polka from "Sylvia")
Godowsky - Alt Wien (Old Vienna)
Grainger - "Shepherds Hey" (English Morris Dance Tune)
Granados - The Maiden and the Nightingale from "Goyescas"
Greig - An der Wiege (By the Cradle)
Guion - Turkey in the Straw
Leschetizky - Arabesque in the form of an etude Op 45 No 1
Levitski - Arabesque Valsante Op 6
Lewenthal - Toccata alla Scarlatti
Liszt - Valse Oubilee No 1
Medtner - Fairy Tale Op 34 No 2
Mendelssohn - The Joyous Peasant Op 102 No 5
Moszkowski - The Juggleress Op 52 No 4
Moszkowski - Etude in F Op 72 No 6
Mozart/Busoni - Serenade from "Don Giovanni"
Phillip - Feux-Follets Op 24 No 2
Prokofiev - March from "The Love of Three Oranges"
Raff - La Fileuse (The Spinner)
Schumann - Nachtstuck Op 23 No 4
Schumann - Romance Op 28 No 2
Schumann/Tausig - Contrabandista (The Smuggler)
Schumann/Liszt - Widmung (Dedication)
Schostakovich - Polka from the ballet "L'Age d'or"
Smetana - Polka Op 7
Weber - Momento Capriccioso Op 12

I'd forgotten it included one of his own works.

[thesixthsensemusic]

Nice list, it's not like any of them are 'obvious' encores...

 TBH I have been listening to classical music all my life, but I hardly know ANY of them.... cheers for giving me some extra IMSLP inspiration dude!

[orangesodaking]

Lewenthal was a great pianist!! I was introduced to him while learning about Alkan, but he was good all around. Quite a virtuoso.