Needed a dose of Levant tonight... this gave it to me.
Oscar in his prime, before the booze and the pills took their toll... I have to assume that he was one of those universal geniuses that seemed to see the rest of the world in slo-mo...
If you watch the insertion-shots carefully, you'll note that, on all the other instruments, he's really playing, or at least executing, the parts that you're hearing... and his conducting is accurate and, with no baton, reminiscent of Ormandy.
@nmitchell Levant was a very close friend of Gershwin (not to mention a composition student and friend of Arnold Schoenberg) and knew a thing or two about Gershwin tempos. As well, Gershwin's nervous 1920s and 1930s Jazz age works have little or nothing to do with calm and repose of the late forties and early fifties Jazz scene. I mean, we're talking the early Swing age, the age of the Lindy Hop, the Fox Trot, and early ideas of Latin music, et. al.
Oscar really blazes through this. He's very in-your-face, which I actually don't really like. Gershwin too me always has an air of relaxation about it. Just like great 40s and 50s jazz. When they're intense, it feels so natural, but this often feels quite forced in my opinion. When taken at such lightnight fast speeds, I think you lose alot of the intricate phrasings in the music. Not to mention the music doesn't really breathe that much.
You know, this video makes me wonder, even though the effects are so obviously fake and cheesy by modern standards, I wonder what sort of effect this had on an audience at the time who had never seen the effects we have now
Levant was so great. When you hear him play this, you hear all the wit and fire that his old friend Gershwin used to put into his own playing, plus a uniquely tempered technique and outlook that was all his own. His tempos are absolutely correct - that is how it should be done.
I feel that his notorious bad behaviour was actually the result of sheer boredom with his time off, plus a deeply neurotic streak. Troubled, yes. Genius, yes. And yet with the wisdom to recognize it with a laugh.
standing on the shoulders of gershwin's giant talent levant's performance is in fact colossal. love the satirical conceit of levant's daydream of everyone in the scene being himself. my imam saw it and remarked '' ya habibi zis proves that
Wonderful wonderful. I just finished reading a bio of Oscar Levant, A Talent for Genius. He truly was a genius, although very self-destructive. Fascinating story. Thanks so much for posting this. I can't get enough.
if you want to get it right from the "horse's mouth" Oscar has a biography of his own (one of three) known as "Memoris of an Amnesia," check your local library, that's where I got mine. If not Ebay is not a bad place to look but the book can be a bit expensive.
That's "Memoirs of an Amnesiac." He stole the title from a spoof biography by Erik Satie, but it's worth stealing. He's being brutally honest, but don't forget that he was above all else a showman, so you're only reading the juicy out-of-control bits of his life that he cares to show.
Shame isn't it, there are so many Tragic Geniuses, too bright for their own good is how my mum puts it. WHen I think of self-destructive geniuses I always think of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. Lol.
But Oscar was undoubtably a troubled genius. LOVE him.
NO! I don't approve! I love them both but in different ways. I don't think anyone should play Oscar. He's too much his own character, you know? Besides, Stiller doesnt even look like Levant!
Oscar Levant was Al Jolson's radio sidekick on The Kraft Music Hall in the late 40's. Every show featured a classical piece played by Oscar, and this was considered popular entertainment. Oscar Levant brought a lot of classical music to mass audiences. Amazing!
Who can ever forget Vicente Minelli's movie: An American in Paris? With the unforgettable Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Georges Guétary and the witty performance of Oscar Levant in Gershwin's piano Concerto? A true gem!
Needed a dose of Levant tonight... this gave it to me.
Oscar in his prime, before the booze and the pills took their toll... I have to assume that he was one of those universal geniuses that seemed to see the rest of the world in slo-mo...
If you watch the insertion-shots carefully, you'll note that, on all the other instruments, he's really playing, or at least executing, the parts that you're hearing... and his conducting is accurate and, with no baton, reminiscent of Ormandy.
tuxguys 8 months ago
that's not Gershwin concerto in F that he's playing.. what is it?
Ricaardoo92 1 year ago
@Ricaardoo92 yes, it is, not from the beginning, though. It's Movement 3, Allegro agitato.
q3mi4 1 year ago
@q3mi4 ohh yeah i realized xD thank you
Ricaardoo92 1 year ago
@q3mi4 Yes, 3rd movement. It gets me in the mornings :)
arbycub 7 months ago
Stupendous
Caracalla23 1 year ago
HA! I just rented that same book!
DavilaAmor 1 year ago
Remarkable beyond words.
Entertainmentwriter 1 year ago
totally genius
blefusku 1 year ago
@nmitchell Levant was a very close friend of Gershwin (not to mention a composition student and friend of Arnold Schoenberg) and knew a thing or two about Gershwin tempos. As well, Gershwin's nervous 1920s and 1930s Jazz age works have little or nothing to do with calm and repose of the late forties and early fifties Jazz scene. I mean, we're talking the early Swing age, the age of the Lindy Hop, the Fox Trot, and early ideas of Latin music, et. al.
Varese13 1 year ago
wonderful video, anyway. Thanks for posting
alikisssa 1 year ago
Oscar really blazes through this. He's very in-your-face, which I actually don't really like. Gershwin too me always has an air of relaxation about it. Just like great 40s and 50s jazz. When they're intense, it feels so natural, but this often feels quite forced in my opinion. When taken at such lightnight fast speeds, I think you lose alot of the intricate phrasings in the music. Not to mention the music doesn't really breathe that much.
nmitchell076 1 year ago
lol 1:49 has the conductor's face photoshopped and mirrored!
wefasdf23 1 year ago
@wefasdf23
You know, this video makes me wonder, even though the effects are so obviously fake and cheesy by modern standards, I wonder what sort of effect this had on an audience at the time who had never seen the effects we have now
nmitchell076 1 year ago
@wefasdf23
Photoshop.
In 1951.
-_-
Karlfalcon 1 year ago
Wow!!!!
DancingAngelicR 1 year ago
I've listened to many youtube recordings of this. Are there any others that rival this in terms of speed, clarity and execution?
violatione 1 year ago
No. No rivals.
blackwingy 1 year ago
Ah, yes. Now I remember why the musical portions of this movie used to creep me out.
jakethepianist 2 years ago
Levant was so great. When you hear him play this, you hear all the wit and fire that his old friend Gershwin used to put into his own playing, plus a uniquely tempered technique and outlook that was all his own. His tempos are absolutely correct - that is how it should be done.
I feel that his notorious bad behaviour was actually the result of sheer boredom with his time off, plus a deeply neurotic streak. Troubled, yes. Genius, yes. And yet with the wisdom to recognize it with a laugh.
OrchestrationOnline 2 years ago 2
Lol 1:46
all the same violinist
in mirror image
I think it looks goofy.
wefasdf23 2 years ago
I love An American in Paris.
kagomehater4ever 2 years ago
standing on the shoulders of gershwin's giant talent levant's performance is in fact colossal. love the satirical conceit of levant's daydream of everyone in the scene being himself. my imam saw it and remarked '' ya habibi zis proves that
ze joosh really do run hollywood!'' (lol.)
deja2048 3 years ago
Wonderful wonderful. I just finished reading a bio of Oscar Levant, A Talent for Genius. He truly was a genius, although very self-destructive. Fascinating story. Thanks so much for posting this. I can't get enough.
298625 3 years ago 2
oh, I never heard of such a book. I'd love to have it. any chance to read it online or download?=)
q3mi4 3 years ago
if you want to get it right from the "horse's mouth" Oscar has a biography of his own (one of three) known as "Memoris of an Amnesia," check your local library, that's where I got mine. If not Ebay is not a bad place to look but the book can be a bit expensive.
bvon44 3 years ago
That's "Memoirs of an Amnesiac." He stole the title from a spoof biography by Erik Satie, but it's worth stealing. He's being brutally honest, but don't forget that he was above all else a showman, so you're only reading the juicy out-of-control bits of his life that he cares to show.
OrchestrationOnline 2 years ago
Shame isn't it, there are so many Tragic Geniuses, too bright for their own good is how my mum puts it. WHen I think of self-destructive geniuses I always think of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. Lol.
But Oscar was undoubtably a troubled genius. LOVE him.
PiecesOfRainbow7 3 years ago
@298625 isn't it interesting how many geniuses are in fact self-destructive?
sohooded 2 years ago
@sohooded I know look at Corey Haim! LOL *whispers* "Too soon?"
violatione 1 year ago
I read that Ben Stiller is supposed to play the part of Oscar Levant in an upcoming movie.
alvaroloaiza2002 3 years ago
NO! I don't approve! I love them both but in different ways. I don't think anyone should play Oscar. He's too much his own character, you know? Besides, Stiller doesnt even look like Levant!
PiecesOfRainbow7 3 years ago
imagine giving screen time to a pianist THESE DAYS - not gonna happen very often - shame - damn this cynicism!
laylacalif 3 years ago 2
Oscar Levant was Al Jolson's radio sidekick on The Kraft Music Hall in the late 40's. Every show featured a classical piece played by Oscar, and this was considered popular entertainment. Oscar Levant brought a lot of classical music to mass audiences. Amazing!
298625 2 years ago
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEEEEEAAAAASE... can someone send me the piano sheet music... PLEASE...i'm begging!!!
ptabbett 3 years ago
@ptabbett sorry, I didn't see that comment check the site imslp dot org, it's there
q3mi4 1 year ago
@q3mi4 classicscore.hut2.ru
everithing you will ever need !!!
aviramskate 8 months ago
Brilliant.
isuldur6 3 years ago
Nice!
MATTALEM 4 years ago
I forgot this movie. I was 7 or 8 years old when i saw it in a B&W TV. thanks for refresh my memory. It's an incredible work!
ClauGriggio 4 years ago
Love it. I can not be that good even in my dreams.
KidMusician 4 years ago
Wow...amazing!!!
talecucce 4 years ago
I'm speechless...this is incredible! Thank you Patrick for sending this to me!
aawpiano2007 4 years ago
Who can ever forget Vicente Minelli's movie: An American in Paris? With the unforgettable Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Georges Guétary and the witty performance of Oscar Levant in Gershwin's piano Concerto? A true gem!
klingsor93 4 years ago
Thank-you for Patrick. I have performed this with orchesra myself, and would have loved to
have heard this for inspiration! It's fantastic! Thanks for forwarding!
piano6861 4 years ago