Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

August 29, 1923 in San Antonio, TX

Death

:

November 21, 1988 in Hudson, NY

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Raymond Lewenthal was an American classical pianist who was born on August 22, 1926, in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Russian immigrants who had fled the Russian Revolution. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Lewenthal showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Lewenthal's family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child, and he began studying piano with Aube Tzerko, a pupil of Sergei Rachmaninoff. He made his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the age of 11, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major. He continued his studies with Tzerko until he was 16, when he was accepted into the Juilliard School in New York City. At Juilliard, Lewenthal studied with Rosina Lhévinne, a renowned piano teacher who had also taught Van Cliburn and John Williams. He graduated from Juilliard in 1947 and made his New York debut the following year, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Dimitri Mitropoulos. Lewenthal quickly established himself as a virtuoso pianist, known for his technical brilliance and interpretive flair. He was particularly admired for his performances of the music of Franz Liszt, a composer whose works had fallen out of favor in the mid-20th century. Lewenthal's recordings of Liszt's music helped to revive interest in the composer and earned him a reputation as a Liszt specialist. In addition to his performances as a soloist, Lewenthal was also a chamber musician and accompanist. He frequently collaborated with the cellist Leonard Rose and the violinist Isaac Stern, among others. He also performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and other major orchestras. Lewenthal's career was not without controversy. He was known for his flamboyant stage presence and his sometimes unorthodox interpretations of classical works. He was criticized by some for his showmanship and accused of sacrificing musical integrity for the sake of spectacle. However, his fans appreciated his passion and his willingness to take risks. Lewenthal's recordings were highly regarded, and he won several awards for his work. He received a Grammy nomination in 1963 for his recording of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra. He also won a Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Liszt's Sonata in B minor. In addition to his performing career, Lewenthal was also a writer and lecturer. He wrote several books on music, including a biography of Franz Liszt and a memoir of his own life in music. He also taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the University of California, Los Angeles. Lewenthal's career was cut short by his death from cancer on June 21, 1988, at the age of 61. He left behind a legacy as a pianist who had brought new life to the music of Franz Liszt and who had inspired generations of musicians with his passion and his artistry.

More....