Short bio Oscar Levant
Full biography Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant was a renowned American composer, concert pianist, conductor, author, actor, comedian, TV talk show host , and radio personality. He was born on December 27, 1906, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died on August 14, 1972, in Beverly Hills, California.
Levant was an accomplished musician who studied under composer Arnold Schoenberg in the 1930s at UCLA. He wrote several highly praised works , including a piano concerto and string quartets. He was also a talented performer and is considered to have been the most accomplished interpreter of the vast songbook of American composer George Gershwin.
Despite his musical achievements, Levant was perhaps best known for his quick wit and biting humor. He was a regular on radio and television talk shows and had a successful career in acting. He appeared in numerous films, including "An American in Paris" and "The Band Wagon."
In addition to his career in entertainment, Levant was also known for his struggles with mental illness. He was open about his experiences with depression and anxiety at a time when such issues were rarely discussed publicly. His willingness to break taboos and confront difficult topics was a testament to his bravery and helped pave the way for greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues in the years to come.
Despite his untimely death, Levant's contributions to American music and popular culture continue to be remembered and celebrated today. His legacy as a composer, performer, and trailblazer will no doubt continue to inspire future generations of musicians and entertainers for years to come.
Compositions featuring Oscar Levant
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lovable & Sweet, fox trot for piano (Theme Song from "Street Girl") | 2:23 min | Keyboard | 1929 |
| 2 | Blame It on My Youth | 7:21 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 3 | Charlie Chan At The Opera | Vocal Music | - | |
| 4 | Concerto for piano | 14:09 min | Concerto | - |
| 5 | Gershwin, portrait | 1:12 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 6 | Sonatina for piano | 10:10 min | Keyboard | - |
| 7 | Young in Heart, for piano | 2:35 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Oscar Levant
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Raffi Besalyan, A. Khachaturian, O. Levant, G. Gershwin – The Sound Of Black & White(CD, Album) | 2021 | Sono Luminus |
| 2 |  |
Oscar Levant At The Piano (Music Of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel)(17×File, FLAC, Compilation, Remastered, Stereo) | 2018 | Sony Classical |
| 3 |  |
A Rhapsody In Blue - The Extraordinary Life Of Oscar Levant(Box Set, Compilation, Special Edition, 8×CD, Compilation, Remastered, Stereo, Mono) | 2018 | Sony Classical |
| 4 |  |
Gene Kelly, George & Ira Gershwin, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary – An American in Paris (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)(CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered) | 2015 | WaterTower Music |
| 5 |  |
Schwartz & Dietz - Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant – The Band Wagon(CD, Album) | 2005 | Classic Soundtracks |
| 6 |  |
Benny Goodman, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini, Oscar Levant, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Of New-York, André Kostelanetz / George Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue / Un Américain A Paris / Concerto En Fa / Trois Préludes Pour Piano(CD, Compilation) | 2005 | Classical Repertoire |
| 7 |  |
Al Jolson and Doris Day, Oscar Levant – The Radio Years(CD, Compilation) | 2004 | Delta Music |
| 8 |  |
Plays Levant & Gershwin | 1994 | DRG Records |
| 9 |  |
Earl Wild, Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra, The - Oscar Levant, Benny Goodman, George Gershwin – Un Americano A Parigi / Rapsodia In Blue / Concerto Per Pianoforte In Fa Maggiore(Cassette, Remastered) | 1994 | Gruppo Editoriale Bramante |
| 10 |  |
Oscar Levant - George Gershwin – Levant Plays Gershwin | 1987 | FM (3) |
| 11 |  |
George Gershwin - Oscar Levant - André Previn - Columbia Symphony Orchestra - Leonard Bernstein - André Kostelanetz - Philadelphia Orchestra - Eugene Ormandy – Gershwin's Greatests Hits(LP, Compilation, Remastered) | 1984 | CBS Masterworks |
| 12 |  |
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant – The Barkleys Of Broadway(LP) | 1981 | Sountrak |
| 13 |  |
Gershwin / Oscar Levant, Orchestre De Philadelphie , dir. : Eugene Ormandy, Morton Gould Et Son Orchestre, Orchestre Philharmonique De New York , dir. : André Kostelanetz, André Kostelanetz Et Son Orchestre – Rhapsody In Blue - 2e Rhapsodie Pour Piano Et | 1962 | Philips |
| 14 |  |
Al Jolson, Oscar Levant – Songs And Comedy | 1962 | Decca |
| 15 |  |
Some Pleasant Moments In The 20th Century(LP, Mono) | 1961 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 16 |  |
Oscar Levant At The Piano: Music of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel | 1961 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 17 |  |
Gershwin - Oscar Levant / The Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy – Rhapsody In Blue | 1958 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 18 |  |
George Gershwin, Oscar Levant, André Kostelanetz – Levant Plays Gershwin(LP, Album) | 1958 | Columbia |
| 19 |  |
Some Pleasant Moments In The 20th Century | 1958 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 20 |  |
George Gershwin / Alec Templeton, André Kostelanetz And His Orchestra, André Kostelanetz, Oscar Levant, Orchestre Philharmonique De New York – Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue / Un Américain A Paris / Concerto En Fa | 1957 | Philips |
| 21 |  |
Oscar Levant , Franz Liszt – Oscar Levant Plays Liszt | 1956 | Columbia |
| 22 |  |
Gershwin / Levant, Andre Kostelanetz – Levant Plays Gershwin | 1955 | Columbia |
| 23 |  |
Anton Rubinstein, Oscar Levant, Philharmonic-Symphony Orcherstra Of New York, Dimitri Mitropoulos – Concerto No. 4 In D Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 70 | 1952 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 24 |  |
Debussy / Dukas / Honegger - Oscar Levant With Eugene Ormandy Conducting The Philadelphia Orchestra / Fritz Reiner Conducting The Columbia Symphony Orchestra – Prélude à L'Après-Midi D'un Faune / The Sorcerer's Apprentice / Concertino For Piano And Orche | 1951 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 25 |  |
Tchaikovsky / Grieg, Oscar Levant – Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 23 / Concerto In A Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 16 | 1950 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 26 |  |
Gershwin / Oscar Levant, Morton Gould And His Orchestra – Second Rhapsody For Piano And Orchestra And Variations on "I Got Rhythm" And Preludes I, II, & III(LP, 10", Mono) | 1950 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 27 |  |
Khachaturian – Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra Of New York, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Oscar Levant – Concerto For Piano And Orchestra | 1950 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 28 |  |
Gershwin – Concerto In F | 1949 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 29 |  |
Oscar Levant , Piano Morton Gould – Gershwin, Variations on "I Got Rhythm" Second Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album) | 1948 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 30 |  |
Tchaikovsky - Oscar Levant With The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy – Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Opus 23 | 1948 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 31 |  |
Gershwin / Oscar Levant Piano, With Eugene Ormandy Conducting The Philadelphia Orchestra, Artur Rodzinski Conducting Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra Of New York – Rhapsody In Blue / An American In Paris | 1948 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 32 |  |
Oscar Levant, The Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra Of New York, Efrem Kurtz - Grieg – Concerto In A Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 16 | 1948 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 33 |  |
Levant Plays Debussy | 1947 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 34 |  |
Etude No. 5 In G-Flat Major / Etude No. 12 In C Minor / Malagueña / Pastourelle(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM) | 1947 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 35 |  |
Intermezzo No. 12 In A Major, Op. 118, No 2 / Waltz No. 15 In A-Flat Major, Op. 39 / Träumerei, Op. 15, No. 7(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM) | 1947 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 36 |  |
Isaac Stern, Oscar Levant , Conducted By Franz Waxman – Humoresque | 1946 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 37 |  |
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns | 1946 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 38 |  |
Oscar Levant - Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata | 1946 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 39 |  |
Adagio Cantabile From Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1946 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 40 |  |
Gershwin / Oscar Levant – Rhapsody In Blue | 1945 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 41 |  |
Chopin, Oscar Levant – Oscar Levant Plays Chopin | 1945 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 42 |  |
Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra / Oscar Levant – Gershwin Piano Concerto / Gershwin Piano Prelude(12", 78 RPM) | 1945 | V Disc |
| 43 |  |
Oscar Levant And The Bell Symphonic Orchestra – The Telephone Hour - Program No. 3 (Gershwin)(12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Transcription) | 1942 | Red, White And Blue Program |
| 44 |  |
Oscar Levant In A Recital Of Modern Music | 1942 | Columbia Masterworks |
| 45 |  |
Rudy Wiedoeft, Oscar Levant – Valse Mazanetta / Minuet(Shellac, 10", 80 RPM) | 1928 | Columbia |
| 46 |  |
Debussy, De Falla, Lecuona, Oscar Levant – Oscar Levant, Piano(7", 45 RPM, EP) | - | Columbia |
| 47 |  |
Oscar Levant Plays Chopin(7", 45 RPM, EP) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 48 |  |
Fire Dance(7", 33 ⅓ RPM) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 49 |  |
Levant Plays Debussy Vol.1(7", 45 RPM, EP) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 50 |  |
Oscar Levant, Morton Gould And His Orchestra – Gershwin variations on "I got rhythm" / Gershwin Preludes 1 . 2 . 3(7", Single) | - | Columbia Masterworks |
| 51 |  |
LEVANT INTERPRETA A GERSHWIN(LP) | - | CBS Columbia |
| 52 |  |
Oscar Levant, Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra, George Gershwin – George Gershwin And Fiends(CD, Album) | - | Mélodie Distribution |
| 53 |  |
Earl Wild, Benny Goodman, Oscar Levant, NBC Symphony Orchestra – Toscanini Dirige Gershwin(CD, Album, Repress) | - | Hunt Productions |
| 54 |  |
Earl Wild, Benny Goodman, Oscar Levant, NBC Symphony Orchestra – Toscanini Dirige Gershwin(CD, Album) | - | Hunt Productions |
| 55 |  |
Tchaikovsky - Grieg(LP) | - | Columbia Special Products |
Videos featuring Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant - Rhapsody In Blue
Columbia EP A-1643 (rec. in 1945)
℗ 1947 Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2020-07-03
Auto-generated by YouTube.
">Humoresque in G-Flat Major, Op. 101, No. 7 (Remastered)
Humoresque in G-Flat Major, Op. 101, No. 7 (Remastered) · Isaac Stern · Antonín Dvorák · Symphony Orchestra · Franz Waxman
Violin Selections from "Humoresque"
℗ 1947 Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2020-07-03
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Gershwin Three Preludes (Oscar Levant, 1941)
Gershwin: Three Preludes
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded December 17, 1941, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrices CO 32287 (Prelude No. 2) and CO 32288 (Preludes 1 and 3). Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17333-D, sides 1
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 1945 Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2018-08-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
">Fire Dance (From "El amor brujo") (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Classical
Fire Dance (From "El amor brujo") (Remastered) · Oscar Levant · Manuel de Falla
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 1945 Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2018-08-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Columbia ML 4599 A Rubinstein Concerto No 4, preview record
From Kit 12 (November 1952) of the Columbia Masterwork Demonstration Kits.
See https://web.archive.org/web/20021029030702/http://ronpenndorf.com/journalofrecordedmusic5.html
Anton Rubinstein: Concerto No. 4 In D Minor For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 70
Osca
► Get your copy here: https://SonyClassical.lnk.to/OL-RhapsodyInBlue
">Michael Feinstein talks about Oscar Levant
Singer and George Gershwin scholar Michael Feinstein speaks about Oscar Levant for the release of the Sony Classical set "A Rhapsody in Blue - The extraordinary life of Oscar Levant".
► Get your copy here: https://SonyClassical.lnk.to/OL-RhapsodyInBlue
Oscar Levant & The NY Philharmonic Orchestra - Khatchaturian's Concerto For Piano & Orchestra
Artist(s): Oscar Levant / The New York Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos)
Composer(s): Aram Khatchaturian
Label: Columbia Masterworks
Cat #: ML 4288
Released: 1950
Tracklist:
Concerto For Piano & Orchestra
- Allegro Maestoso
- And
Oscar Levant at the piano.
Columbia 4839. (1927). Recorded at 80 rpm.
EMG Xb Oversize gramophone. EMG two-spring soundbox. Burmese thorn needle.
">"Valse Mazanetta". Rudy Wiedoeft. Saxophone solo.
"Valse Mazanetta". (Wiedoeft). Saxophone solo by Rudy Wiedoeft .
Oscar Levant at the piano.
Columbia 4839. (1927). Recorded at 80 rpm.
EMG Xb Oversize gramophone. EMG two-spring soundbox. Burmese thorn needle.
Gayane Ballet Suite: Lullaby (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Gayane Ballet Suite: Lullaby (Remastered) · Oscar Levant · Aram Khachaturian · The Columbia Concert Orchestra · Lou Bring
Oscar Levant Plays the Music of German, Russian and American Composers
℗ 194
Columbia 4839. (1927). Recorded at 80 rpm.
EMG Xb Oversize gramophone. EMG two-spring soundbox. Burmese thorn needle.
">"Minuet". Beethoven. Rudy Wiedoeft. Saxophone solo.
"Minuet". (Beethoven---arranged Wiedoeft). Saxophone solo by Rudy Wiedoeft. Oscar Levant at the piano.
Columbia 4839. (1927). Recorded at 80 rpm.
EMG Xb Oversize gramophone. EMG two-spring soundbox. Burmese thorn needle.
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 1945 Sony Music Entertainment
Auto-generated by YouTube.
">Malagueña (From Suite "Andalucia") (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Malagueña (From Suite "Andalucia") (Remastered) · Oscar Levant · Ernesto Lecuona
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 1945 Sony Music Entertainment
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Oscar Levant on Jack Paar
Oscar Levant on Jack Paar
Debussy Les Collines d'Anacapri (Oscar Levant ,1942)
Debussy: Les Collines d'Anacapri (Preludes, Book I, No. 5)
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded January 20, 1942, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32412. Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17334-D, side 3 of Masterworks set
Oscar Levant and Vladimir Horowitz play Poulenc
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963):
- Pastourelle in B flat major
Oscar Levant (1906-1972), rec. 1945
- Presto in B flat major at 1:38
Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), rec. 1947
Debussy Jardins sous la pluie (Oscar Levant, 1942)
Debussy: Jardins sous la pluie (Estampes, No. 3)
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded January 20, 1942, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32409. Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17334-D, side 4 of Masterworks set M-508 ("O
Children's Corner, L. 113: 6. Golliwog's Cake-walk (Remastered)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Children's Corner, L. 113: 6. Golliwog's Cake-walk (Remastered) · Oscar Levant · Claude Debussy
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 1945 Sony Music Entertainment
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded December 17, 1941, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32289. Issued in the summer of 1942 as
">Shostakovich Prelude and Polka (Oscar Levant, 1941)
Shostakovich: Prelude in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2;
Shostakovich: Polka (from "The Golden Age", Op. 22)
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded December 17, 1941, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32289. Issued in the summer of 1942 as
Jelobinsky: Two Etudes (Oscar Levant, 1941)
Jelobinsky: Etudes, Op. 19, Nos. 1 and 2
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded January 20, 1942, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32410. Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17335-D, side 5 of Masterworks set M-508 ("Oscar Lev
from Preludes, Book I
rec. 1945
">Oscar Levant plays Debussy "La fille aux cheveux de lin"
"The Maid With Flaxen Hair"
from Preludes, Book I
rec. 1945
Ravel: Menuet from Sonatine (Oscar Levant, 1942)
Ravel: Sonatine - Menuet (Second movement)
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded January 20, 1942, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32413. Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17334-D, side 7 of Masterworks set M-508 ("Oscar L
OSCAR LEVANT PLAYS - CLAIR DE LUNE- claude debussy -1946
Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. He was as famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and in movies and television, as for his music.
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825: II. Allemande
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825: II. Allemande · Oscar Levant · Johann Sebastian Bach / J.S. Bach / ヨハンセバスチャンバッハ
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 2018 Sony Music Ent
Oscar Levant Plays His Sonatina, First Movement (1942)
Levant: Sonatina (1931) - First movement (Con ritmo)
Oscar Levant, piano
Recorded January 20, 1942, in Liederkranz Hall, New York City, on Columbia 78-rpm matrix CO 32411. Issued in the summer of 1942 as Columbia 17334-D, side 8 of Masterworks set M-508
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825: IV. Sarabande
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825: IV. Sarabande · Oscar Levant · Johann Sebastian Bach / J.S. Bach / ヨハンセバスチャンバッハ
Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
℗ 2018 Sony Music Ent
03:50 Miller's Dance from "The Three-Cornered Hat"
">Oscar Levant plays De Falla
Oscar Levant, piano
LP, Columbia, CL 1134, 1958
00:00 Ritual Fire Dance from "El Amor brujo"
03:50 Miller's Dance from "The Three-Cornered Hat"
Oscar Levant plays Albéniz Tango in D major
Oscar Levant, piano
LP, Columbia, CL 1134, 1958
Leave a Reply