Music mourns a humble star

Artists and listeners the world over have been shocked by the sudden death yesterday of the German pianist and conductor Lars Vogt. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and confronted the disease and its treatment with frankness, courage and humour. The end was swift and unexpected. The loss is universal.

Our colleague Zsolt Bognar has launched a fundraiser to help Lars’s family. You can contribute here.

UPDATE: Friends mark Lars’s birthday

These are some other responses today:

Matthias Goerne: We will miss you tremendously, Lars.

Alan Gilbert: Sad beyond words. Lars was truly a giant among people, and one of the greatest musicians I have known.

Igor Levit: Awful.

Thomas Quasthoff: I am very sad because a wonderful person, a great musician and pianist left us forever, way too soon! You were free of any star allure, so it was a great pleasure to play music with you. I will miss you endlessly and never forget you. My thoughts with great condolences are with his family.

Víkingur Ólafsson:

Thinking of Lars and his closest ones in these very sad times the kindest man and most wonderful artist, he sent me this last text 2 weeks ago before I went on stage somewhere. I keep thinking about these words, to the point, true and beautiful as was the man and his music. pic.twitter.com/tPRNeu4ljv

— Víkingur Ólafsson (@VikingurMusic) September 6, 2022

Daniel Hope: I met Lars Vogt the first time in 1990 at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. He was 19 at the time and jumped in to replace Sviatoslav Richter. His playing was nothing short of revelatory. I will never forget the beauty of his sound and the honest depth of his interpretation.

Steven Isserlis: Beyond sad that we have lost our beloved Lars Vogt. It is impossible to imagine a more warm-hearted, life-loving being – he will leave a vast hole in the lives of all his friends and colleagues, not to mention his family. Thank you for all the happiness you brought us, dear Lars.

Karin Hendrickson: My heart breaks. Getting the call I was selected as Assistant Conductor to #LarsVogt while he was Music Director for Royal Northern Sinfonia-indescribable honor. He welcomed me with warmth and respect and his musical energy/depth lead us all. A great colleague and I will forever remember you. Our endless discussions during recording your Brahms Concerti will undoubtably show up in my future performances. We have lost one of the best.

Bradley Creswick (ex-leader Royal Northern Sinfonia): All of us at Royal Northern Sinfonia are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Lars Vogt. A regular guest in our programmes at Sage Gateshead and beyond as both conductor and exceptional solo pianist, Lars was also Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Music Director from 2015-2020 and had since been a Principal Artistic Partner of the orchestra.

Marc-André Hamelin: What immense sadness to lose a wonderful, kind artist and beautiful soul

Gabriela Montero: The musical world is devastated by the passing of the wonderful German pianist and friend, Lars Vogt. Just days ago, we were texting each other wanting to finally meet in person. I was hoping to make my way to Germany to visit him. I thought there would be enough time

Julian Rachlin: I am completely devastated by the news that my friend Lars Vogt is no longer with us. What a kind and generous soul and most sensitive musician.

Julia Hagen: Seldom has a musician moved me the way Lars Vogt did. His playing was like himself: honest, genuine, incredibly warm, open, not boastful, with a depth and warmth that I’ve rarely experienced. Always seeing the good in others, insane.

Alexander Liebreich: I’m so sad that you left, dear Lars. Your music touched me so much and you were an incredible human being, always there to walk us and I a piece. From Munich via Poland to Valencia. I will never forget you!

Cornelius Meister: Lars Vogts feinfühliges, kenntnisreiches und sprühendes Musizieren bleiben in meinem Gedächtnis ebenso wie die Erinnerung an seine Warmherzigkeit und menschliche Nähe.
 

Paavo Järvi: R.I.P. Lars Vogt. We will always love you and we will never forget you!