At the Piano, Fleisher Is Forever Young

An icon among American pianists, Leon Fleisher, at 72, is a legendary musical figure. But, as heard at the La Jolla SummerFest’s “An Evening With Leon Fleisher” Wednesday night, his playing remains vivid, probing and altogether young.

The frame for the event spotlighting this famous teacher of pianists (Fleisher has taught at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore since 1959) is this town’s annual summer chamber music party; the August series ends with its 11th festival concert, Sunday afternoon. The large audience on Wednesday night, on its way to post-concert festivities, listened attentively and cheered the music-making.

And, why not? Sherwood Auditorium is a wonderful venue for chamber music, the young players assisting the veteran pianist were top-flight, and jolly togetherness dominated the evening.

Recalling Fleisher’s four-decade primacy in the left-hand repertory--occasioned by a long bout with carpal tunnel syndrome--the pianist began the evening in solo mode with George Perle’s engaging “Musical Offerings, for the Left Hand Alone,” serious but entertaining pieces in a serial style that nevertheless grip the listener. Characteristically, Fleisher’s playing brought the listener immediately into Perle’s colorful world.

With the glamorous quintet of violinists Ani Kavafian and Chee-Yun, violist Toby Hoffman, cellist Andres Diaz and bassist Donald Palma, Fleisher made the irresistible centerpiece of the program Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12, K. 414. The performance provided an object lesson in elegance, simplicity and the primacy of beautiful sounds connected by narrative continuity.

Brahms’ Piano Quartet--the colleagues here were violinist Eugene Drucker, violist Hoffman and cellist (and festival co-artistic director) David Finckel--ended the evening with dramatic point but no grandstanding, just the musical content delivered emotionally, affectionately and in perfect balance.