Igor Levit plays J S Bach, Beethoven & Rzewski
£18.15
In stock - available for despatch within 1 working day
Despatch Information
This despatch estimate is based on information from both our own stock and the UK supplier's stock.
If ordering multiple items, we will aim to send everything together so the longest despatch estimate will apply to the complete order.
If you would rather receive certain items more quickly, please place them on a separate order.
If any unexpected delays occur, we will keep you informed of progress via email and not allow other items on the order to be held up.
If you would prefer to receive everything together regardless of any delay, please let us know via email.
Pre-orders will be despatched as close as possible to the release date.
Label: Sony
Cat No: 88875060962
Format: CD
Number of Discs: 3
Genre: Instrumental
Release Date: 9th October 2015
Contents
About
Following his landmark recordings, 'Beethoven - The Late Piano Sonatas' and 'Bach - Partitas', both of which have won him international acclaim, Igor Levit is now tackling another three major works: Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, and Frederic Rzewski's Variations on 'The People United Will Never Be Defeated'.
It is testament to Igor Levit's invention and the command of his repertoire that in one release he is able to combine arguably two of history’s greatest sets of variations for the keyboard, complete alongside a classic of late 20th century piano music by contemporary composer Frederic Rzewski.
Sound/Video
Paused
-
1Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Aria
-
2Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 1 A 1 Clav.
-
3Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 2 A 1 Clav.
-
4Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 3 - Canone All' Unisono A 1 Clav.
-
5Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 4 A 1 Clav.
-
6Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 5 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.
-
7Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 6 - Canone Alla Seconda A 1 Clav.
-
8Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 7 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav. Al Tempo Di Giga
-
9Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 8 A 2 Clav.
-
10Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 9 - Canone Alla Terza A 1 Clav.
-
11Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 10 - Fughetta A 1 Clav.
-
12Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 11 A 2 Clav.
-
13Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 12 - Canone Alla Quarta
-
14Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 13 A 2 Clav.
-
15Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 14 A 2 Clav.
-
16Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 15 - Canone Alla Quinta A 1 Clav. Andante
-
17Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 16 - Ouverture A 1 Clav.
-
18Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 17 A 2 Clav.
-
19Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 18 - Canone Alla Sesta A 1 Clav.
-
20Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 19 A 1 Clav.
-
21Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 20 A 2 Clav.
-
22Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 21 - Canone Alla Settima
-
23Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 22 A 1 Clav. Alla Breve
-
24Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 23 A 2 Clav.
-
25Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 24 - Canone All' Ottava A 1 Clav.
-
26Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 25 A 2 Clav.
-
27Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 26 A 2 Clav.
-
28Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 27 - Canone Alla Nona A 2 Clav.
-
29Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 28 A 2 Clav.
-
30Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 29 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.
-
31Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Var. 30 - Quodlibet A 1 Clav.
-
32Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria With 30 Variations - Aria Da Capo
-
33Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Theme
-
34Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 1
-
35Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 2
-
36Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 3
-
37Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 4
-
38Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 5
-
39Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 6
-
40Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 7
-
41Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 8
-
42Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 9
-
43Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 10
-
44Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 11
-
45Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 12
-
46Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 13
-
47Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 14
-
48Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 15
-
49Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 16
-
50Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 17
-
51Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 18
-
52Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 19
-
53Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 20
-
54Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 21
-
55Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 22
-
56Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 23
-
57Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 24
-
58Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 25
-
59Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 26
-
60Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 27
-
61Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 28
-
62Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 29
-
63Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 30
-
64Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 31
-
65Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 32
-
66Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120, Diabelli Variations - Var. 33
-
67The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Thema. With determination
-
68The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 1 - Weaving, delicate but firm
-
69The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 2 - With firmness
-
70The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 3 - Slightly slower, with expressive nuances
-
71The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 4 - Marcato, with determination
-
72The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 5 - Dreamlike, frozen, a little slower, Tempo
-
73The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 6 - Same tempo as beginning, Slower, Tempo, Slower
-
74The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 7 - Tempo (Lightly, impatiently)
-
75The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 8 - With agility, not too much pedal, crisp
-
76The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 9 - Evenly
-
77The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 10 - Comodo, recklessly
-
78The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 11 - Tempo I. Like fragments of an absent melody, in strict time
-
79The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 12
-
80The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 13
-
81The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 14 - A bit faster, optimistically
-
82The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 15 - Flexible, like an improvisation
-
83The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 16 - Same tempo as preceding, with fluctuations, much pedal, expansive, with a victorious feeling
-
84The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 17 - Left hand strictly. Right hand freely, roughly in space
-
85The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 18
-
86The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 19 - With energy
-
87The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 20 - Crisp, precise
-
88The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 21 - Relentless, uncompromising
-
89The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 22 - Very expressionate
-
90The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 23 - As fast as possible, with some rubato
-
91The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 24
-
92The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 25
-
93The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 26 - In a militant manner
-
94The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 27 - Tenderly, with a hopeful expression, Cadenza, Fiercely
-
95The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 28
-
96The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 29
-
97The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 30
-
98The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 31
-
99The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 32
-
100The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 33
-
101The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 34
-
102The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 35
-
103The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Var. 36 - Improvisation
-
104The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations - Thema. Tempo I
Europadisc Review
No-one can accuse Igor Levit of doing things by halves. Still only in his late twenties, this Russo-German pianist's first two recordings, of Beethoven's late Sonatas and Bach's Six Partitas, won plaudits that most other artists would envy. Now he tackles not just two of the greatest variation sets of all time, but with them a twentieth-century classic in the same genre and on a similarly challenging scale.
The accompanying booklet reveals the amount of thought but also sheer delight that has gone into recording this vast musical trilogy of ninety-nine variations in all: a cornucopia of musical variety and volatility. Whether in Bach's harmonically grounded exploration of techniques and styles (the Goldbergs), Beethoven's endlessly witty takes on Diabelli's mundane waltz-theme, or Frederic Rzewski's dazzling unity-in-diversity (political as well as musical), these are performances of commanding presence. It is not just Levit's phenomenal technique that impresses (most obviously in the quicksilver fast variations), but the huge dynamic range he conjures.
Levit certainly has the measure of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, a reading of real tonal power, as well as mercurial responsiveness to the constantly changing and gradually intensifying moods. If Bach's Goldberg Variations emerge as cooler, more classically poised, this is perhaps a consequence of them being a more recent addition to Levit's repertoire, and he has clearly done much soul-searching before committing them to disc (his own favourite recordings, he confides, 'are all by harpsichordists').
Levit's real achievement here is to establish Rzewski's 36 Variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated! as fully worthy of standing alongside the Bach and Beethoven masterpieces. These six-times-six variations, as fastidiously organised as the Goldbergs, encompass a vast range of stylistic references from Chopin and Liszt to jazz and the 'extended' techniques of the postwar musical avant garde. Levit has clearly benefited from the mentorship of Rzewski himself, as well as a long-held admiration for the music. The cumulative effect of these spellbinding, technically exacting miniatures is evident in the final, transformed reprise of the Chilean revolutionary song, which comes only after a cadenza-like improvisation that follows Variation 36.
At the same time as this mouthwatering collection from Levit comes another recent recording of the Rzewski Variations, from the work's original dedicatee and doyenne of avant garde pianism, Ursula Oppens (see here). This recording, on the Cedille label, marks the fortieth anniversary of the Variations' composition. It's a more inward and concentrated account than Levit on Sony, something emphasised by the closer recording, but it has an unmistakable air of authority. It also has the added attraction of a new work by Rzewski, Four Hands (2012), which exploits the rapid alternation between two musical lines known as 'hocket' to create the illusion of one, with Oppens joined by her longtime duet partner Jerome Lowenthal. Musically, it demonstrates as wide a frame of reference as the People United Variations, from Brahms and Taneyev to Webernesque serialism and even a jazzy fugue.
The Levit/Sony disc will probably appeal more to aficionados of pianism, the Oppens to committed modernists – but the truly musical inquisitive will certainly want both! A truly fascinating pair of releases.
The accompanying booklet reveals the amount of thought but also sheer delight that has gone into recording this vast musical trilogy of ninety-nine variations in all: a cornucopia of musical variety and volatility. Whether in Bach's harmonically grounded exploration of techniques and styles (the Goldbergs), Beethoven's endlessly witty takes on Diabelli's mundane waltz-theme, or Frederic Rzewski's dazzling unity-in-diversity (political as well as musical), these are performances of commanding presence. It is not just Levit's phenomenal technique that impresses (most obviously in the quicksilver fast variations), but the huge dynamic range he conjures.
Levit certainly has the measure of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, a reading of real tonal power, as well as mercurial responsiveness to the constantly changing and gradually intensifying moods. If Bach's Goldberg Variations emerge as cooler, more classically poised, this is perhaps a consequence of them being a more recent addition to Levit's repertoire, and he has clearly done much soul-searching before committing them to disc (his own favourite recordings, he confides, 'are all by harpsichordists').
Levit's real achievement here is to establish Rzewski's 36 Variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated! as fully worthy of standing alongside the Bach and Beethoven masterpieces. These six-times-six variations, as fastidiously organised as the Goldbergs, encompass a vast range of stylistic references from Chopin and Liszt to jazz and the 'extended' techniques of the postwar musical avant garde. Levit has clearly benefited from the mentorship of Rzewski himself, as well as a long-held admiration for the music. The cumulative effect of these spellbinding, technically exacting miniatures is evident in the final, transformed reprise of the Chilean revolutionary song, which comes only after a cadenza-like improvisation that follows Variation 36.
At the same time as this mouthwatering collection from Levit comes another recent recording of the Rzewski Variations, from the work's original dedicatee and doyenne of avant garde pianism, Ursula Oppens (see here). This recording, on the Cedille label, marks the fortieth anniversary of the Variations' composition. It's a more inward and concentrated account than Levit on Sony, something emphasised by the closer recording, but it has an unmistakable air of authority. It also has the added attraction of a new work by Rzewski, Four Hands (2012), which exploits the rapid alternation between two musical lines known as 'hocket' to create the illusion of one, with Oppens joined by her longtime duet partner Jerome Lowenthal. Musically, it demonstrates as wide a frame of reference as the People United Variations, from Brahms and Taneyev to Webernesque serialism and even a jazzy fugue.
The Levit/Sony disc will probably appeal more to aficionados of pianism, the Oppens to committed modernists – but the truly musical inquisitive will certainly want both! A truly fascinating pair of releases.
Reviews
...like the rarest of that breed – a Perahia, say – his playing already has a far-seeing quality that raises him to the status of the thinking virtuoso. There is, if you care to rationalise, a Russian depth of sound and eloquence of phrasing, tempered by Germanic intellectual grasp. There is also a sense of exulting in technical prowess and energy. But not once in the course of these three themes and 99 variations did I feel that such qualities were being self-consciously underlined. Levit’s musical personality is as integrated and mature as his technique. And both of these are placed at the service of the music’s glory rather than his own... If a finer piano recording comes my way this year I shall be delighted, but frankly also astonished. David FanningGramophone November 2015
Also Available
Error on this page? Let us know here
Need more information on this product? Click here