Igor Levit – Encounter (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:39:19 minutes | 1,39 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

The latest album ‘Encounter’ by the German-Russian pianist is a particularly astonishing one, blending the diverse works of great composers such as Bach, Brahms and Morton Feldman. While the 2020 health crisis, due to the covid19 virus, has caused great anxiety among the general population it has also ignited the imagination of artists and musicians alike. Locked down in his apartment like so many us, the pianist Igor Levitt broadcasted a daily, live performance on his social media, even going as far as playing a 20 hour piece, Vexations by Erik Satie. ‘Encounter’, the product of Levitt’s self-isolation during lockdown, brings together an intelligent and pleasing array of composers. From Bach arranged by Busoni at the Palais de Mari, or the latest work from Morton Feldman for solo piano, to Brahms arranged by Reger, these are intimate connections between composers, as much as they are moments of solidarity at a time or great loneliness and isolation. Levitt’s poignant introspection and devotion to humanity shines throughout his album. – François Hudry

(more…)

Read more

Igor Levit – Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:09:08 minutes | 1,87 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

Igor Levit has recently given highly acclaimed debuts in major musical centres across Europe and is being hailed by international critics as one of the most outstanding pianists of our time. Levit is a BBC Young Generation Artist and currently features in the “ECHO Rising Star” program of the European Concert House Organization. Not just another young aspiring pianist releasing his debut album, he is an outstanding artist who meets the exceptionally high technical and interpretative demands of this extraordinary repertoire. Despite his young age, Levit’s interpretations display a rare depth and maturity, making for extremely well-balanced renderings on an artistic level of the great piano masters of our age. The Russian-German pianist performs one of the largest chunks of piano repertoire – Beethoven much-revered five late sonatas opp. 101, 106 and 109–111. Here, Beethoven’s late piano sonatas can be discovered in a most natural & tonally beautiful way. Written between 1816 – 1822 when the composer was completely deaf, Beethoven’s last sonatas are highly subjective artistic and personal confessions. The sonatas constitute one of the cornerstones of Beethoven’s mysterious late style next to the five last quartets.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Igor Levit

(more…)

Read more

Igor Levit – Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 10:05:59 minutes | 8,79 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

Igor Levit – the recent recipient of the prestigious Gilmore Artist Award and the Royal Philharmonic Society’s “Instrumentalist of the Year”- has now completed the recording of all 32 sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven. In September 2019 this mammoth studio-recording project will finally be released and leads the way for important new releases on Sony Classical for Beethoven’s 250-year anniversary.

(more…)

Read more

Igor Levit – Partitas BWV 825-830 (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:30:46 minutes | 2,43 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

Igor Levit has recorded Bach’s Partitas BWV 825-830. It is the second release by the 27-year-old pianist, whom many regard as the greatest talent of his time, on Sony Classical. With his debut album, featuring the late Beethoven sonatas, Levit received critical acclaim and awards from international publications and organisations.

After Beethoven, Levit now turns his attention to Bach:

“It’s simply amazing what Bach could do!” Levit exclaims “He had a command of form second to none. Take the long slow movement of Partita no. 6: at the end it’s not a sarabande any more, but a crazy, radical free fantasy – incredibly emotional, it stands no comparison. It really shakes you up. This is music of the utmost perfection!”

And of the minuet from Partita no. 5, BWV 829 Levit says: “this is a humorous piece, not a minuet! And then suddenly it is one. And then it isn’t.”

Igor Levit has worked his way meticulously towards the famous Bach partitas. He read, studied and played music that came before Bach. While he was pursuing his research, he didn’t play Bach at all. And then he spent three or four years on the partitas without performing them in concert until he had the feeling he had finally mastered the scores and could do them justice.

In the intervening period since his first album was released, the young pianist has become more laid-back, and that is immediately apparent from a comparison of the two albums. When he recorded the Beethoven sonatas, Levit seemed to be hurling all his strength at the keyboard, battling the elements, as it were. In the Bach partitas, a relaxed distance can be felt; a happy calm that makes it easy for the pianist to enjoy performing the music to the full.

“For the first time in my life, I have the feeling that the way I play now is just right for me” he says. “Everything comes together, inwardly and programmatically. I can see light at the end of the tunnel, and that’s where I want to go. Since then, I’ve felt immensely relaxed. It’s true that I had to struggle with every note from the Bach just like with Beethoven – but this time I enjoyed the struggle.”

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Igor Levit

(more…)

Read more