Updated March 6, 2009

• Enjoy free pre-show music discussion

• Complimentary wine reception after performance

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alys Stephens Center with the Birmingham Chamber Music Society and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra present a solo recital by Leon Fleisher at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S., Birmingham. Enjoy a free Prelude musical discussion an hour before the show and a post-performance reception sponsored by Roederer Estate and International Wines. Tickets are $65, $55 and $45; students $20. Call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org for more information.

This is a Birmingham Chamber Music Society Special Event. Sponsors are the Alabama State Council on the Arts, WBHM, The Birmingham News, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Viva Health.

Renowned pianist, conductor and teacher Leon Fleisher will perform a solo program featuring the works of Bach, Debussy, Albeniz and Chopin.

Fleisher gave his first recital at eight, and at age nine began studying with the great German pianist Artur Schnabel. At 16, in 1944, he made his debut with the New York Philharmonic. He was the first American to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth of Belgium competition in 1952.  But Fleisher was suddenly struck silent when two fingers of his right hand became immobile in 1965. He worked as a conductor and teacher while learning to play the repertoire of compositions for piano with his left hand. Recently Fleisher has been able to play with both hands again and made his first two-hand recording in 40 years: a musical biography called "Two Hands."