Igor Levit

In his early thirties, Igor Levit is without a doubt still very young – and yet he has already given brilliant performances of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in several major music centres, as a stack of glowing reviews testifies. Sony Classical is planning to release the complete cycle on CD in the autumn of 2019, at the same time as the pianist embarks on his performance of the complete Beethoven sonatas in the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall. Levit has taken an intense interest in the composer since his childhood. That may explain why his Beethoven sounds so incredibly authentic and yet so fresh and new: At every turn, an unexpected attraction grabs the listener’s attention; everything is there, all the depth, grandeur and deep, ethical earnest of the score. Yet the music seems close and accessible, absolutely of the here and now.