One of the great generation of American pianists that appeared in the '50s, Fleisher's right hand was put out of commission for years by focal dystonia. For a few decades he concentrated on the small repertory for left hand alone, on teaching, and most importantly (as he explains on a bonus interview disc included with this CD) on simply thinking about music — which meant that his artistic growth never stopped. There's no Lang Lang-style barnstorming here — though his cured right hand negotiates the ornate intricacies of Chopin's Berceuse as flawlessly as anyone's — but there is a deep profundity, wisdom, and serenity, brought to bear on some of his favorite repertory, from the simple, almost gospel-like harmonies of the opening of Bach's Capriccio to the sharply etched but lyrical Serenade by Stravinsky. One rarely hears piano playing this thoughtful and powerfully intimate.