A sense of wonder: Levit and Becker

By Mark Thomas, 20 February 2020

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“Levit and Becker exuded musicality and warmth”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 19 February 2020

Beethoven, Grosse Fuge arranged for piano (4 hands), Op.134

Brahms, Variations on a Theme by Haydn in B flat major, Op.56a

Bartók, Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion, Sz.110

Igor Levit, Piano

Markus Becker, Piano

Klaus Reda, Percussion

Andreas Boettger, Percussion

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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Mark Thomas

A lifelong devotee of classical music, Mark caught the bug after listening to The Planets, The Rite of Spring and Beethoven’s Fifth when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. He has degrees in non-musical subjects and currently works as a Chartered Governance Professional, but these have proved to be mere distractions from the wonders of sonatas, concertos and symphonies. He has been reviewing for Bachtrack since 2016, plays viola and violin (very shakily) and used to sing a bit (even more shakily).

A sense of wonder: Levit and Becker reveal plenty in Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók