Ruth Slenczynska Okayama Symphony Hall in Japan

[vigodsky]

I had the rare honor of being with and hearing Ruth once again in person as we eulogized my dear friend, her departed sister, Helen Lee, at Atlanta's Universalist Unitarian Congregation, this past Saturday, June 11th. Ruth's (now Kerr) rendition of Chopin's "Prelude #23 and Schumann's "Traumerie" moved me to tears. She still has the "touch" and sure command of the keyboard. Her students in NYC are truly blessed. I was blessed to know all three sisters. .

[RPoshekGladbach]

Kudos to my teacher of over 20 yrs ago...

[shellymoorman]

She is an amazing performer. I have had the opportunity to study with her twice in the past 6 weeks. Besides being an amazing pedagogue, she is one of the nicest people I know

[maternalheart66]

Hmm, I'm quite surprised at how low she sits here, I've always been told that your elbow must be slightly above your wrists, while your wrists are slightly below the keyboard. In any event she has a wonderful, warm sound. You can also see the influence of her Bach playing with the G major prelude, her left hand was beautifully clear.

[celticears]

@maternalheart66

Well, I guess you could prop her up on a couple of phone books, but then, would her feet reach the pedals? This remarkable pianist may be diminutive physically (I don't think she's quite five feet tall), but she's been playing like a champion for a very long time. If her hand position is a little out of kilter with the textbook mavens, maybe we can all get over it.

[fredericfranc]

She is not that young, but hearing her play the preludes, I see the First Marine Division on Guadalcanal: no prisoners...

[sjspeak]

Madame Slenczynska is very much still performing. Her next performance will be in San Francisco on 12/11/10. She states: "My next performance in your area will be for Pacific Music Society at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco on Dec. 11th. I'll be playing some Brahms and Chopin on a program with many other participants because the whole thing is a charitable affair." The performance will be in the evening. Anyone interested in attending can contact the Pacific Music Society.

[sjspeak]

Madame Slenczynska is very much still performing. Her next performance will be in San Francisco on 12/11/10. She states: "My next performance in your area will be for Pacific Music Society at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco on Dec. 11th. I'll be playing some Brahms and Chopin on a program with many other participants because the whole thing is a charitable affair." The performance will be in the evening. Anyone interested in attending can contact the Pacific Music Society.

[iverson6812]

chopin prelude 16 is fantastic !!

[junglejim66]

How fortunate to have this video in concert. One of the greatest of pianists and a wonderful person. I met her backstage at several concerts; she was always very human. I was lucky to interact with her when I was a young man.

I wrote to her for years 1958 until her retirement from Southern Illinois University.

A beautiful person.

[38wertsy]

She is amazing. I heard her play yesterday when she visited Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She was trying out our newly purchased piano and I have never heard such an amazing performance. Ruth is the best I have ever heard live. I hope that she comes back soon. Ruth is also the nicest person to talk to. See is so lively, polite and excitable. It was a great experience. I hope I get to hear her play again someday.

Thanks Ruth!

[38wertsy]

She is amazing. I heard her play yesterday when she visited Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She was trying out our newly purchased piano and I have never heard such an amazing performance. Ruth is the best I have ever heard live. I hope that she comes back soon. Ruth is also the nicest person to talk to. See is so lively, polite and excitable. It was a great experience. I hope I get to hear her play again someday.

Thanks Ruth!

[slambennett]

This one I like far better than her Liszt. There is a grittyness to her playing that works better in Chopin than Liszt (where sounding "easy" is part of the character IMHO). Plus she looks to be at least 70 or 75 here -- and I hope I can still play at that age.

[xper2xper]

This is superb !!!

Thx for the upload!

[jnay3]

this is great, i love all her work.....amazing pianist! how do i get the whole recital?

[Noshirm]

Brava, Slenczynska! I had heard her live in Rancho Bernardo many years ago! She played an incredibly demanding program flawlessly - and tirelessly! The 4 Ballades, the Op. 10 Etudes complete, and works by Messiaen, Debussy, and Poulenc. By any standard, a great American pianist! We love you, Madame Slenczynska!!!

[snaaptaker]

I love her, too.

I heard her in Wash.DC in the mid-50s, playing the Mendelssohn G-minor Concerto.

And, had I stayed in San Diego, I would have heard her in Rancho Bernardo, too. Darn!!

[Noshirm]

She must have played it to perfection! That Rancho Bernardo recital was stupendous, you know. Demanding, grueling material. She played it SPOTLESSLY. Not a dropped note. Not a trace of exhaustion. I think she played a 9 foot Baldwin...no encores, though, and no back-stage presence for autograph seekers. She played and left. I recall going backstage to try to meet with her - no luck. :-( Some years ago, I wrote to her through her secretary, thanking and praising her once more. What a lady!!! ^_^

[jnay3]

That's unusual, I have seen Ms Slenczynska at every possible opportunity. Every time she has made herself available to admirers. She signs autographs, chats, takes pictures....a very cool lady. Something else must have happened when you saw her.

[MrRicksStudio]

@jnay3 - she was an absolute dear when I met her in Atlanta during her 70th anniversary Jubilee tour. I took one of her first recordings to the reception, a 78 rpm record made in 1948 or 1949, backstage, and asked her to autograph the sleeve. She did. She seemed genuinely surprised that I had the record and asked me if it "still played". I said yes it did, and so did she...

[glasnevin2009]

Lovely sound and playing from Ms. Slenczynska. Thank you for this posting.

[laion0103]

I love Slenczynska so much! Do you mind to share the whole pieces rather than just a few portions? thanks a lot!!!!

[inanennui]

Please share how to get these footage thank u thx

[inanennui]

oh my god!! this is incredible, how can u get this!!! thank you so much, this is heavenly treasure!!! please share more thank you so much