Paavo Järvi and Igor Levit in conversation (14 min.)

The music of Ludwig van Beethoven plays a central role in the repertoire of pianist Igor Levit. The artist celebrated his recording debut with an enthusiastically received recording of the composer’s last five piano sonatas. In the Beethoven year 2020, his cyclical performance of all 32 of the composer’s sonatas caused a sensation at the Salzburg Festival and Musikfest Berlin. Levit performed Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto with the Berliner Philharmoniker in March 2021; a work that the pianist particularly values for the passages in which he is allowed to take on the role of orchestral accompanist. In this interview, Paavo Järvi, conductor of the programme, asks Levit about his view of Beethoven and the influence of historical performance practice on his interpretations. Another topic of conversation is the concert marathon Igor Levit used to keep in touch with his audience via social media during the lockdown in spring 2020.