Words: Bronislaw Sozanski BA DipEd ATCL VMTA

Internationally renowned pianist Leslie Howard, pictured above, during a rare visit to Australia, gave an outstanding recital on September 17, as a fundraiser for Central Highlands Rural Health.
London-based Howard has recorded the complete piano works of Franz Liszt and is recognised as a leading scholar of the music of that composer. The capacity audience enjoyed a spectacular performance of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.
The Mozart sonata K331, with the well-known Rondo Alla Turca, was performed (at a private local venue near Daylesford) with refinement and clarity. Continuing scholarship allows the contemporary listener to get closer to Mozart’s original score, with Howard performing the updates in his exciting reading.
The rarely performed Beethoven Fantasie Op.77 successfully projected Beethoven’s dramatic intentions, with the improvised character shining through. The sense of purpose and direction were always evident.
The performance of Chopin’s Barcarolle, from its simple, joyful opening to the colourful dramatic development remained true to the lyrical and poetic character demanded of this composer’s music, assisted by deft pedalling and well-controlled chord voicing.
The recital included Liszt’s Der Todesengel (Death’s Angel), a relatively recent discovery. The emotional intensity within the piece was clearly heard as the narrative was slowly revealed in this short but powerfully dramatic piece.
The recital was completed with Liszt’s two Ballades. The fireworks of these two bravura works were comfortably realised as Howard revelled in the music with which he is so closely associated.

Local music lovers are in for a rare treat as world renown pianist Leslie Howard is giving a once-off afternoon matinee concert in Daylesford next month to support Creswick Health’s hospital and aged care upgrades.

“If there is a pianist alive who knows Liszt’s piano music more thoroughly, intimately and directly than Leslie Howard I would like to meet him – or her – but I doubt that there is anyone on the planet who does,” wrote Guy Rickards for Musical Opinion, reviewing Leslie Howard’s 2021 piano recital at London’s Wigmore Hall.

London-based Aussie pianist Howard is the first and only person in the world to have recorded the complete solo piano works of legendary Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt, who is regarded as one of the greatest pianists and most popular piano composers of all time. This mammoth project, which took Howard decades to complete, now comprises a 100-CD set and includes more than 300 premiere recordings. 

Howard has received enormous praise and numerous awards for his Liszt recordings, including the Guinness World Record for the Largest Recording Series by a Solo Artist, six Grands Prix du Disque and the Medal of St Stephen, presented to him by the President of Hungary. He has also held the title of President of the British Liszt Society since 1987. 

In addition to his impressive recording career, Howard maintains a busy international concert schedule, which has seen him perform regularly around the world for more than 50 years.

Coming up September 17 this renown Australian pianist, musicologist and composer will give a matinee (2pm) concert at Daylesford Town Hall to raise money for Creswick Health Service. It will be his only performance in Victoria.

The Guardian described Howard as a “master of a tradition of pianism that is in serious danger of dying out”. Those who make next month’s concert at Daylesford Town Hall can expect to hear Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt compositions rendered by a master of the keyboard.

Cost is $35 – proceeds towards to cause – with tickets through Humanitix