The might of the miniature: Igor Levit's late Brahms at Wigmore Hall

Igor Levit

John Gilhooly presents Igor Levit with the Wigmore Medal

By Roy Westbrook, 21 January 2024

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“paradoxically, this artist can engage an audience by playing as if they are not there”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 19 January 2024

Brahms, 7 Fantasies for Piano, Op.116

Brahms, 3 Intermezzi for piano, Op.117

Brahms, 6 Piano Pieces, Op.118

Brahms, 4 Piano Pieces, Op.119

Igor Levit, Piano

Igor Levit brings Beethoven and Rzewski to Carnegie Hall

Kurt Gottschalk, 22nd January

Levit introduced the theme at such a clip that one couldn't help but worry about the marathon of musculature he had in front of him, but he persevered, playing with a precision that was almost alarming.

*****

Tremendous energy and engagement from Igor Levit at Wigmore Hall

Patrick Maxwell, 22nd September

Igor Levit brings a well-considered programme of Schubert, Schumann and Chopin to London in a performance of commitment and subtlety.

****1

Percussive Prokofiev and titanic Shostakovich from Levit and Sternath

Mark Pullinger, 4th April

Igor Levit champions his young mentee Lukas Sternath in a joint Wigmore Hall recital culminating in Shostakovich's own transcription of his Tenth Symphony.

****1

Budapest Festival Orchestra sprinkles fairydust over London

Roy Westbrook, 11th March

Story time with Uncle Iván as the BFO plays music from the ballet Cinderella to crown an all-Prokofiev evening.

****1

Subsuming virtuosity: Igor Levit at Carnegie Hall

Edward Sava-Segal, 12th January

Igor Levit's Carnegie Hall programme evolves into a journey through interconnected musical worlds, revealing unexpected parallels and contrasts.

****1

Levit and New York Phil principals in double concertos

Edward Sava-Segal, 30th May

In a subscription performance supposed to yield no surprises, Igor Levit makes his own mark in Shostakovich.

***11

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.