Scheherazade! And, Leon Fleisher Plays Ravel at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

In another rich and diverse program, legendary pianist Leon Fleisher, representing the gold standard of musicianship, imparts his artistry on the stage of Helzberg Hall. From the horror of war came a work of beauty and grace – Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand, composed for Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein who lost his right arm in World War I. The program opens with composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein’s only work as a film composer – an aggressive and jazzy portrayal of crime, violence and corruption. Capping off this colorful program is Rimsky-Korsakov’s vibrant score based on the tale of Scheherazade and the Thousand and One Nights. In some of the most evocative music ever written, the composer depicts the sea, a vibrant festival in Baghdad and a ship wrecked by storm. Ovation & Masterworks Series