Ricardo Montalban - Desde "El Salón Mexico!"

Ricardo Montalban is amazing! Dancer, singer, actor and then some! If he wasn't a pianist, he should have been! Elegant Ricardo and composition by Aaron Copland: "El Salón Mexico!" Ricardo, En Paz Descanze!

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Howto & Style

Tags:

• Ricardo
• Montalban
• 1947
• North
• American
• movie
• his
• premiere
• Fiesta
• Cyd
• Charisse
• Esther
• Williams
• Mary
• Astor
• Aaron
• Copland

[PianoDaemon]

In an episode of - I believe - MURDER SHE WROTE, Ricardo Montalban played a concert pianist and is shown playing the opening of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Like in the clip presented here, it definitely looked like he knew his way around a piano. I too have always wondered if he played in real life.

[varadero1839]

@PianoDaemon Thanks so much for your comment! I remember that episode, and there is a mystery there! I'm grateful hearing from you but viewing numerous comments below, It may well have been Jose Iturbi. At the time, I believe he was under contract to this studio so I wouldn't be surprised. Here's the bottom line: Ricardo looked, played, acted and commanded this piece on screen! His physical presence, acting, singing, dancing still makes him a triple threat. Que viva Ricardo!!

[rlmendoza]

I remember the first time I "heard" this was in the process of sight reading (it did not end well). All I can say about Ricardo Montalban's performance is "Wow," just, "Wow!"

[varadero1839]

@rlmendoza Hi! If you have a few minutes, please read the comments by misheemom below. They refer to Mr. M's prowess at the keyboard. I know he could sing and dance, but I must defer to this expert as to his piano playing. Either he really could play, and/or Hollywood worked some magic again with a "finger-double!" Thanks so much for your comment!

[mgoodstuff]

Sad that they omitted him along with Farah Fawcett in this year's Oscar memoriam.

[varadero1839]

I've been trying to research this, but I recently read since Mr. Montalban died in January of 2009, that he was mentioned at the Oscar telecast from March, 2009. Still can't find it in writing. Sorry...

[misheemom]

Was Montalban a pianist as well along with his many other talents? He is hitting every note and his technique is quite good. I know he used to give 100% to all he did. But even a good faker couldn't hit as many of the correct notes that he's hitting, which seems to be every one. (This coming from a piano teacher!)

He's one of a kind!

[misheemom]

@anoxinomin5 Thanks for answering that question . I knew the sound track was not him playing (at least for real on screen) but his accuracy of hitting the correct keys seemed too good for someone who did NOT know how to play. His technique is pretty good also. It's always a pet peeve of mine when actors are supposed to look like they're really playing and they just don't look like they even have any idea how the piano works!

[anoxinomin5]

@rlmendoza again,I'll let the cat out of the bag,,Mr Montalban is on screen ,but it's Joe Iturbi we hear playing the piano. He did the same for Cornell Wilde in A Song To Remember when he played Chopin! Mr. Iturbi can be seen on camera in many MGM films most noteworthy is Anchors Away when he plays for Frank Sinatra and does a :WOW" at The Hollywood Bowl with a couple of dozen kids and The Ritual Fire Dance

[anoxinomin5]

I once asked Miss Williams about this amazing piece of film! She told me that although Ricardo did play the piano, it had to be the finest musical impresario at the MGM studio at that time to play that piece of music by Aron Copland. Ricardo spent weeks practicing with him,we see Ricardo on screen but on the audio track we hear the one and only Jose Iturbe playing the piano. I was lucky years ago to find this on a 45 RPM,perhaps it still can be found!

[oldixe]

Great - I am vindicated. I always considered him a gentleman and a scholar!

[orangevonzeppelin]

@madholl1942 I'm crazy for Ricardo too, but my friends like *cringe* Justin Beiber...

I suppose we just have more sophisticated taste!

[debbiechickie5]

@oldixe He seems very comfortable playing here....given his upbringing, it would seem natural his parents would have insisted on some piano lessons along the way?

[oldixe]

Well, I have been trying to find out if he REALLY did play the piano and no one seems to know. Isn't there someone out there who REALLY knows?