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5th August 2015

Coming Soon, Igor Levit records Beethoven, Bach and Rzewski

by Katherine Cooper

Igor Levit records Beethoven, Bach and RzewskiIt's rare that we get a extended preview of a recording project when part of it is still to be committed to disc, but that's exactly what happened this morning when we spent an hour sampling one-third of Igor Levit's forthcoming triptych of variations - Rzewski's mammoth set of 36 extended riffs on the Chilean protest-anthem '¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!' (written by Sergio Ortega in the early 1970s).

Levit's been causing quite a sensation with his recent live performances of the work (The Guardian marvelled at the 'astonishing aplomb and sometimes scarcely believable accuracy' of his recital at the Wigmore Hall a fortnight ago), and on the strength of the technical brilliance, razor-sharp imagination and sheer stamina of what we heard this morning it's easy to see why. Due out in the autumn, the 2-CD set will also include JS Bach's Goldberg Variations (to be recorded imminently) and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, both of which are influences on the Rzewski work - its dedicatee Ursula Oppens commissioned it to complement the Diabellis in recital, and indeed Levit has often performed the two mighty cycles together in one programme. To say that he already has serious form when it comes to Bach and Beethoven is a supreme understatement (his accounts of the Late Sonatas and Complete Partitas, also Sony, were praised far and wide for their integrity, intelligence and maturity), so this new recording looks set to be one of the stand-out releases of the autumn.

Other recordings from Igor Levit

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

Levit certainly started big with his solo debut on Sony: his recording of the last five Beethoven sonatas (usually tackled by mid- or late-career artists) won him the Newcomer Prize at the 2014 BBC Music Awards and was also a finalist at the Gramophone Awards later that year.

Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Bach, J S: Partitas Nos. 1-6, BWV825-830

Bach, J S: Partitas Nos. 1-6, BWV825-830

The Bach Partitas which followed last autumn were scarcely less impressive, with the Sunday Times describing Levit's interpretation as 'authentic in the most profound meaning of the word' and by BBC Music Magazine as 'Bach at his most commanding...as fine a set of Bach's complete partitas as you will find in the catalogue'.

Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

Katherine Cooper - Head of Editorial

Katherine Cooper read English at University College, Oxford, and joined Presto in 2009. She began her musical life as a violinist, but now spends much of her time singing Rossini and Elgar (sometimes even for money). She is also an Associate Lecturer for the Open University, specialising in music and literature.

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