Igor Levit: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Watch Igor Levit play at the Tiny Desk.
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Nov. 22, 2019 | Tom Huizenga -- When Russian-born pianist Igor Levit dropped in to play Beethoven at the Tiny Desk, he admitted he was - even after four cups of coffee - "still in my time zone change." A little jet-lagged, he had flown in from Berlin the night before and hopped an early train from New York to Washington, D.C.
But Levit easily slipped into his Beethoven zone - a space he knows all too well. Levit, 32, has been playing the German composer's music for half his life. He recently released a box set of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas and once again he'll be performing complete cycles of the sonatas in various cities to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth in 2020.
Levit's set placed the oddball, wryly-humored Andante from the neglected Tenth Sonata between two of the most famous pieces of western music: the opening movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata and the tender, ubiquitous, bagatelle better known as "Für Elise."
Levit's "Moonlight" emphasized the mesmerizing qualities in the music, with its oscillating pulse, smoldering low end and tolling bells. The second piece proved Beethoven wasn't always the grumpy guy he's made out to be. His sly sense of humor percolates through the set of variations in a jaunty march rhythm, punctuated with a final, ironic, thundering chord. Levit closed with the ever popular "Für Elise." Sure, it's a "total eye-roller," Levit admits, but he also describes it as "one of the most beautiful treasures in the piano literature."
Here we see three distinct sides of Beethoven - foreboding, funny and fetching - from one of his most ardent and thoughtful advocates. Now what could be better than that as an overture to the big Beethoven year ahead?
SET LIST
Beethoven: "Piano Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight,' I. Adagio sostenuto"
Beethoven: "Piano Sonata No. 10, II. Andante"
Beethoven: "Bagatelle in A minor, 'Fur Elise'"
MUSICIAN
Igor Levit: piano
CREDITS
Producers: Tom Huizenga, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Alex Drewenskus; Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Mhari Shaw/NPR
Пікірлер: 205
I love him! Such lovely, clear playing. He doesn’t milk notes, so refreshing. He’s completely immersed in the music itself.
He is not only a wonderful pianist but also a person with values. He's one of the few classical musicians I ever heard speak up against political injustice.
@JulieDeuxFois
4 жыл бұрын
why should musicians even have an opinion about politics?! these days we confuse artists and activists
@ohjemima5100
4 жыл бұрын
@@JulieDeuxFois to be a simple human being is enough to have a political opinion.
@NW801
4 жыл бұрын
Any good artist should have meaning behind their art.
@ClimateDude
4 жыл бұрын
@@JulieDeuxFois Everyone has the right to have and express political opinions
@vnrender
4 жыл бұрын
How dare anyone think music is not a political act? Human beings are naturally political, no art form would exist without politics.
People may roll their eyes at Fur Elise, but this was a world class performance of the song. Just look at some of the other performances of Fur Elise on KZread and you can immediately hear the difference in how people play/interpret the song. Igor's touch is fantastic. Regular folks spend their lives trying to sound like that on grand pianos. He sounded amazing on an upright.
@mashicoleman
2 жыл бұрын
Piece
saw him on a german tv show nights ago. I'm not into classical music but his playing is very soulful and pleasing. I love it!
Such simplicity. He's giving each note room to breath and exist, without asking too much of it. Beautiful
Seriously, 20 seconds and my eyes began to fill. Beethoven and this guy, frigging amazing. How they can say Mahler is now more popular than Beethoven I will never know..
@adamhansard4647
4 жыл бұрын
Andrew Lynham the same
@Sok12111
5 ай бұрын
@@adamhansard4647 for what it's worth I've never heard of Mahler 🤷♂
Igor plays with extraordinary fluidity. Truly beautiful.
@dennischiapello7243
4 жыл бұрын
Unusual evenness of tone, with wonderful legato.
To be able to extract such beautiful dynamic range and and make such a beautiful singing line from a small upright... So beautiful.
Yassss PianoDaddy, gimme that Beethoven just the way it's meant to be The blurring of the harmonic changes through delayed and half pedaling in the first movement of the c# minor and the non-sentimental tempo and lack of cliches. I LIVE, henny! The complete Beethoven sonatas this guy recorded has been getting my juices flowing
the way he plays, like he is caressing the piano and in turn it gifts him beautiful song
Er fühlt die Musik und ich bekomme Gänsehaut ♥️
Hes literally like asleep and moving in slow mo shredding Beethoven like a champion.
Absolute goosebumps....I've never been pulled into a piano piece like that before
Always impressed by the quality and variety of music and musicians showcased by Tiny Desk. Igor's interpretation of Beethoven's works is something special indeed. Love the camera work with tight shots of his hands and the intimacy between performer and piano.
wow the moonlight sonata has the perfect feel and timing Amazing
@dennischiapello7243
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, I like that it's not too slow.
My mind was chaos, but now I'm soothed
This is some kinda Man + Piano alchemy, we are really lucky to witness this happening..
Hypnotic-I have the exact piano here-and it is always a treat to see a master player on the same instrument showing the touch control and phrasing- proving that sound comes from the shoulder,arms and fingers and not just the instrument- no matter if it's a Yamaha U or a Steinway D.
Just watching his fingers move....never saw anything like that, glued to the piano. Wonderful!
This dude is one of the few pianists who fully understand Beethoven's music.
@DimitriTaits
2 жыл бұрын
And who else besides him?
@joshuacarlson4558
3 ай бұрын
@@DimitriTaitsarrau
@kurtbehofsits948
2 ай бұрын
@@DimitriTaitsRonald Brautigam, Alfred Brendel, Emil Gilels, Fazil Say, Friedrich Gulda, ……
Wow, it makes me feel like hearing Für Elise for the first time. Thank you very much
The way he plays is amazing to me, i'm practicing for some time now to very modest results and if i were to close my like that, cant imagine what mess would make
Each note feels sacred.
What a perfect tactile connection between musical thought and piano tone itself💎⚜️
Levit, is without question, the most important pianist of our time. He is endlessly inspiring, and creates a presence at the piano that takes my breath away. I saw him perform a few summers ago at Tanglewood, and I count that as one of the highlights of my concert going life. That and Nirvana of course.
@d.p.2395
3 жыл бұрын
The Moonlight Sonata is so incredibly beautiful. He connects with the piece on a spiritual level. And magic happens
A very romantic take on Beethoven, he makes a lot of sense of it. Thank you for the beautiful music.
beautiful sensitive playing. Thank you.
I found Igor's collection of the Beethoven piano sonatas recently and I've been quite captivated by his playing since.
Phrasé très fluide et d'une éclatante précision. Même sur un piano droit ! Bravo.
ir helped me on this friday morning. thank you 🙏🏻.
Most enjoyable! It’s easy to see that Igor and the piano are truly linked.👍✌️😊🙏🏼🎵🎶
Never mind the out of tune piano. Levit, recently, in virus lockdown: "I never really cared about acoustics. I never cared that much about the quality of the piano. All I wanted to do was play. The important point about these concerts is not how they sound but the fact that they happened. Everything is getting reduced to the essential thing of being there and playing.” Thx to Alex Ross, music critic, New Yorker, for the quote.
@geoff7517
2 жыл бұрын
I agree about the piano being out of tune. In fact, I think it adds to the effect, especially in the G Major Sonata.
Beautiful‼️ Thank you NPR Tiny Desk‼️ Peace
So smooth and beautiful phrases 😍
Beautiful !!
Timeless music.The abyss of emotions and feelings. NPR thanks for good content.
Beethoven is one of my favorites. Igor plays his music beautifully. Play on, Igor!
Here after the Grammy performance. So peaceful and adventurous
"one of the most beautiful treasures in the piano literature." Indeed, treasures all.
Hermoso ,que bello despertar con esta música, gracias, muchas gracias.
Just. Lovely. Will play again and again!
Simply beautiful
Beautiful!
His pinky movement is insane. Im just looking at that the whole video
@ianmoore5502
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah at first i was shocked the music matched the video considering how very litttle he moves that thing. Staggering.
@skinny0ne
4 жыл бұрын
Only a few percentage of people have independent pinky movement due to how their tendons and muscles attach. That’s natural ability.
Time less music that never gets old!
I'm here for the pre show, I fell in love with your talent
Just wonderful. A gifted musician can make any instrument sing!
Igor Levit ist wahrscheinlich der beste lebende Pianist, für mich zeigt er worum es beim Musik machen wirklich geht. Viele Grüße und Glück
@Schleiermacher1000
3 жыл бұрын
Da könnte ich aus dem Stehgreif einige mindestens ebenso gute Pianisten nennen.
@albrechtalbrecht3064
Жыл бұрын
@@Schleiermacher1000 Er ist der Beste.
@Schleiermacher1000
Жыл бұрын
@@albrechtalbrecht3064 Sokolov
👏.love the flow. ❤.
Moltes gràcies!❤
Soooo beautiful
Deep and beautiful.
His sincerity is what makes a difference!
Peacefully beautiful or beautifully peaceful. Either way . . . Enjoyed it
Wow! Feeling Music is where the player has to be. I 100% feel like he would have wanted this played this way. THANK YOU!!!!
Just amazing how much music he has in his head and his fingers. And i never knew Beethoven had such a humor like in the second piece. Sorry...im rather new to classic music. :)
That was lovely Igor, you are goals. I am just trying to get through jingle bells 🙈
As usual what a pleasant surprise
BRAVO Mister (y)
Why this few views... This human being is amazing.
I loved his performance ❤
Beautiful....
I love Fur Elise! Also Moonlight. You are amazing! Thank you.
I love this guy and think he is a genius. It's impossible for me to imagine mastering the 32 Beethoven and recording them. The Adagio sostenuto was mesmerizing, the Andante was delightful and humorous. "Fur Elise" was haunting.
Gorgeous!
Beautiful music mane🔥✊🏾💯.
Igor Levit, bester Mann!
Love his take on Beethoven
que maravilla, podría estar a eternidad escuchando
that was surprising 🌹💙
Beautiful
His body is moving in slow motion in my brain 😂
@danielbeaumont-thomas6923
4 жыл бұрын
omgosh it soooo does!!!
Extremely talented
Perfect!
This guy can play!
피아노 선율을 느끼면서 건반을 치는 당신과 음악을 눈 감으며 들으니 더 좋네요.~
Purely Intense!!!
Today I start a new job...Thank you Ludvig, Igor and NPR, you've provided me with the best alarm clock one could wish for! Peaceful wishes for us all, have a great day world, I love you all form Aotearoa/New Zealand xO
NICE!
It made me cry it was so beautiful.
WONDERFUL!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎩🎶🇮🇹
Beautiful and moving... despite the bitten piano
Lovely
Oh My goodness ! 내가 좋아하는 곡이다 !
Unbelieveable! To have such a great master and get him an absolut detuned piano in the lower notes. 4:52 It´s ridiculous
Your staccato is on point.
Such a beautiful soft piece
♥INCREDIBLE 🎹🎶🎵🎶🎵 ♥MASTERPIECE 🎹🎶🎵🎶🎵 ♥PURE GENIOUS❤ 🎹🎵🎶😴🎧
Moonlight sonata had me dozing off. So good.
nice play nice sound
Wow, that staccato!
Shivers at the srart
holy scoliosis he's good.
Divino Beethoven...
god the andante is beautiful
Classic, thank you dearly.. During this time of age we all as humans forgot to have a piece of mind. We all needed THAT thanks
Ich mag Tempo, Unaufgeregtheit und Fluß seiner Moonlight Sonate Interpretation (first piece)
Hes a genius magnificent
Wow, that was amazing, Levit is exquisite to listen to and mesmerizing to watch. Kudos to Tiny Desk engineers for the great recording also. I listened thru headphones.... and am now curious, is it industry standard to pan stereo from behind the piano or from the players point of view? In all my audiophile listening years this is something I had never considered. Regardless, it was beautifully done. (just a shame about the slightly squeaky middle c (?)) Thanks NPR for the variety of music!!
@darikas3325
Жыл бұрын
With drumset recordings it is the same issue and the choise there is up to artistic freedom. With the piano I would always opt for the player's perspective (Basstones left) though.
The second one got me so hype 😂😂, you would think it was a trap song