Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Igor Levit
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Sony
Catalogue: 88883747352
Release: 2013
Size: 1.85 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
01. I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung
02. II. Lebhaft. Marschmäßig
03. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll
04. IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”
05. I. Allegro
06. II. Scherzo. Assai vivace
07. III. Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
08. IV. Largo – Allegro risoluto
CD 02
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
01. I. Vivace ma non troppo
02. II. Prestissimo
03. III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
04. I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
05. II. Allegro molto
06. III. Adagio ma non troppo – Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
07. I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
08. II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabile
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.
Igor Levit makes his debut on Sony in the last six piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven, a part of the repertoire that is usually reserved for mature artists, not rising stars. Yet in spite of some signs of youthful enthusiasm, and a possible loss of objectivity from playing these pieces on a busy recital schedule, Levit has a good feeling for Beethoven’s late style, and his 2013 release is a promising beginning for his recording career. The excessive use of rubato is something Levit should watch, because too much alteration of the tempo dissipates Beethoven’s energy, and even though these sonatas have their moments of reverie and trance-like passages that can be interpreted as mystical experiences, too much elasticity can make them seem like idle daydreams, or worse, forgetfulness. On the whole, though, Levit shows his thorough mastery of the notes, and he can handle Beethoven’s myriad syncopations and unconventional counterpoint with great agility. Ultimately, what proves Levit’s preparedness for playing these sonatas has less to do with his technical abilities and more to do with his expression and understanding of Beethoven’s rarefied sound world. Levit has captured the otherworldly quality that is a hallmark of the late works, and he grasps the forms that give the music meaning, whether in the labored fugues or the sublime variations. It will be interesting to see if Levit revisits these sonatas at a future date, if only to discover how he will grow with them, which he surely will. Sony’s recording is up close and personal, so the occasionally faint dynamics are entirely Levit’s doing.