Igor Levit plays Bach, Beethoven, Rzewski (2015)

Following his landmark recordings, "Beethoven - The Late Piano Sonatas" and "Bach - Partitas", both of which has 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.

Levit comes with great pedigree when it comes to recording the works of Bach and Beethoven, with his 2013 Beethoven disc winning him the BBC Music Magazine Newcomer of the Year 2014 Award, the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artist Award 2014 and the ECHO 2014 for Solo Recording of the Year. His second recording, J.S. Bach’s Six Partitas in 2014, was Gramophone’s Disc of the Month.

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Rzewski
Performer: Igor Levit

Reviews: Igor Levit’s first recording for Sony was of Beethoven’s last five piano sonatas, and his second of Bach’s six keyboard partitas. His latest release features monumental works by both of those composers, alongside one of the great achievements of late 20th-century piano music, and this is, if anything, an even more demanding and nervelessly accomplished collection.
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There’s a unifying logic about grouping these three huge sets of variations together. Just as Beethoven modelled the Diabelli Variations on Bach’s Goldberg, so both those works loom large in the background of Frederic Rzewski’s 36 variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, completed in 1975, which takes a song by Sergio Ortega, which became an anthem for the Chilean left during the Allende years, and uses it as the starting point for a virtuoso tour around almost every piano style of the last century and more.

Anyone who heard Levit play The People United in his Wigmore Hall recital in London three months ago will remember the concentration and astounding technical panache that he brought to the work, and that comes across in every bar of his recording, too. There are multiple versions of this contemporary classic already available on disc, including one by Rzewski himself, but few of them match Levit’s combination of supreme, sometimes breathtaking accuracy and his sustained intensity.

The same sense of freshness and discovery runs through his Diabelli Variations. It’s a performance that consistently manages to seem deeply considered and carefully planned, yet still feels spontaneous; even when Levit pushes tempi to extremes in the faster variations, there’s the sense that they are part of a larger, always lucid scheme. Perhaps some pianists probe more deeply beneath the surface of the slower variations than he does, especially in those moments that hark back to the world of Beethoven’s late sonatas, but one of the most impressive aspects of the performance as a whole is how Levit holds the different aspects of this massive work in balance – the reflective against the extrovert, the comic against the profound.

Alongside the Beethoven and the Rzewski, though, Levit’s account of the Goldberg Variations seems a little ordinary. It almost goes without saying that it’s technically immaculate and, within its modern pianistic framework, stylistically punctilious, but what’s missing, for me, is the sense of personal commitment that Levit communicates so vividly in the Diabelli and The People United. Sometimes it’s as if he is playing the Goldberg Variations just because they are there, and not because he feels he has something unique to bring to them.

Tracklist:

Disc: 1
1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Aria
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 1 a 1 Clav.
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 2 a 1 Clav.
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 3 - Canone all' Unisono a 1 Clav.
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 4 a 1 Clav.
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 6 - Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav.
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 8 a 2 Clav.
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 9 - Canone alla Terza a 1 Clav.
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 10 - Fughetta a 1 Clav.
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 11 a 2 Clav.
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 12 - Canone alla Quarta
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 13 a 2 Clav.
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 14 a 2 Clav.
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 15 - Canone alla Quinta a 1 Clav. Andante
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 16 - Ouverture a 1 Clav.
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 17 a 2 Clav.
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 18 - Canone alla Sesta a 1 Clav.
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 19 a 1 Clav.
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 20 a 2 Clav.
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 21 - Canone alla Settima
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 23 a 2 Clav.
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 24 - Canone all' Ottava a 1 Clav.
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 25 a 2 Clav.
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 26 a 2 Clav.
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 27 - Canone alla Nona a 2 Clav.
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 28 a 2 Clav.
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Var. 30 - Quodlibet a 1 Clav.
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Aria with 30 Variations / Aria da capo
Disc: 2
1. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Tema. Vivace
2. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 1 - Alla Marcia maestoso
3. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 2 - Poco allegro
4. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 3 - L'istesso tempo
5. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 4 - Un poco più vivace
6. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 5 - Allegro vivace
7. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 6 - Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
8. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 7 - Un poco più allegro
9. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 8 - Piu vivace
10. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 9 - Allegro pesante e risoluto
11. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 10 - Presto
12. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 11 - Allegretto
13. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 12 - Un poco più moto
14. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 13 - Vivace
15. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 14 - Grave e maestoso
16. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 15 - Presto scherzando
17. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 16 - Allegro
18. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 17
19. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 18 - Poco moderato
20. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 19 - Presto
21. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 20 - Andante
22. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 21 - Allegro con brio, Meno allegro, Tempo I
23. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 22 - Allegro molto (alla "Notte e giorno faticar" di Mozart)
24. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 23 - Allegro assai
25. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 24 - Fughetta. Andante
26. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 25 - Allegro
27. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 26
28. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 27 - Vivace
29. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 28 - Allegro
30. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 29 - Adagio ma non troppo
31. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 30 - Andante, sempre cantabile
32. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 31 - Largo, molto espressivo
33. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 32 - Fuga. Allegro, Poco adagio
34. Diabelli Variations - 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 / Var. 33 - Tempo di Menuetto moderato (ma non tirarsi dietro)
Disc: 3
1. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Thema. With determination
2. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 1 - Weaving, delicate but firm
3. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 2 - With firmness
4. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 3 - Slightly slower, with expressive nuances
5. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 4 - Marcato, with determination
6. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 5 - Dreamlike, frozen, a little slower, Tempo
7. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 6 - Same tempo as beginning, Slower, Tempo, Slower
8. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 7 - Tempo (Lightly, impatiently)
9. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 8 - With agility, not too much pedal, crisp
10. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 9 - Evenly
11. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 10 - Comodo, recklessly
12. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 11 - Tempo I. Like fragments of an absent melody, in strict time
13. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 12
14. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 13
15. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 14 - A bit faster, optimistically
16. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 15 - Flexible, like an improvisation
17. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 16 - Same tempo as preceding, with fluctuations, much pedal, expansive, with a victorious feeling
18. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 17 - Left hand strictly. Right hand freely, roughly in space
19. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 18
20. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 19 - With energy
21. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 20 - Crisp, precise
22. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 21 - Relentless, uncompromising
23. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 22 - Very expressionate
24. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 23 - As fast as possible, with some rubato
25. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 24
26. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 25
27. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 26 - In a militant manner
28. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 27 - Tenderly, with a hopeful expression, Cadenza, Fiercely
29. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 28
30. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 29
31. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 30
32. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 31
33. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 32
34. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 33
35. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 34
36. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 35
37. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Var. 36 - Improvisation
38. The People United Will Never Be Defeated! - 36 Variations on ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! / Thema. Tempo I