Tragic news: Lars Vogt has died
NewsWe have been notified that the German pianist and conductor Lars Vogt died this afternoon, following a sudden worsening of his cancer.
Lars was 51.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Reszniak-Vogt, and three children.
Only three weeks ago, he was speaking positively on this site about balancing his cancer care with continuing to play piano where possible. He received the diagnosis only in March 2021.
Lars was a marvellous artist and a fine human being whose warmth will long be remembered.
Aside from his playing career, he became music director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia in September 2015, taking the same position in 2020 at the Paris Chamber Orchestra.
May his precious soul rest in peace.
UPDATE: Music mourns a humble star
That is very sad news. I heard him play a couple of times (with Christian Tetzlaff) and found him inspiring. RIP.
This is heartbreaking. He was simply a wonderful man. I only met him one time and he couldn’t stop to praise his admired colleague Leif Ove Andsnes … this was Lars Vogt.
I wish his family all support they need.
RIP
Such a fine player. Sympathy to his family.
Jan Kaznowski
He was a person who gave incessantly of himself, a positive spirit whose warmth and generosity lit up the world around him. It is so very sad that he has left us so soon.
Such a loss for music and humanity. My sincere condolences to his dear family.May his memory be a blessing.
The video of him playing Beethoven with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony was moving on many levels and makes his passing all the more heart rending. Too many people who make the world a better and more hopeful place have passed away this year. Condolences to his family.
RIP . We will miss you tremendously, Lars.
Matthias
PS Three days short of celebrating his 52nd birthday is even crueler if that’s possible.
So tragic. Such a lovely man and wonderful musician
Condolences to all family and friends- wonderful musician
My condolences to his family. I heard him live in Boston three times, and he made a very strong impression in each concert. He was a real musician and played each concert as if it mattered, and his performances were anything but routine. What a loss for those of us who were privileged to hear him. And what a tragedy for those who loved him.
So sad to hear. Prayers for him and his family. God rest his soul.
So sad. So young and what a talent and Mensch.
I first heard Lars Vogt at the OSM’s Virée Classique in Montréal, in the Place Des Arts’s Cinquième Salle. Dvorak Piano Trio No. 3 with Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff. Halfway through the third movement we heard a crack, and Lars Vogt disappeared under the piano, looking for the Steinway’s pedals that had just broken off. After some minutes of funny awkward stand-up on his part, they resolved to finish the trio, without pedalling. It sounded absolutely marvellous.
A great musician and a great human being, and a great loss.
I had the great pleasure to interview Lars for Musicweb in 2009. Such a warm and normal person, showing me video’s with his young children and Simon Rattle… he gave us so much: Vielen Dank Lars
Unimaginable. Oh my. Lars. Your legacy is forever etched in the souls of all of us, and will reach those not yet born in times to come. You have left us a better place in music and in heart. You are now with the greatest ones.
Words fail.
His music making will be remembered.
“Lars was a marvellous artist and a fine human being whose warmth will long be remembered.”
Anyone who saw him perform and met him would say the same as you. My thoughts are with his family. R.I.P. Lars.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. He was a truly inspiring person and artist.
RIP
I am shocked to hear this terribly sad news! I thought he was on his way to get well again.. RIP and my condoleances to the family of this wonderful musician
Terrible news. Requiescat.
I started a fund to help his family and young children: https://gofund.me/7295b40a
Utterly heartbreaking…
May he forever rest in peace among the angels.
My sincere condolences to his family..such sad news!
Our very sincere condolences to all of Lars Vogt’s family. We got to know him during the wonderful years that he was the Principal Conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestra in Newcastle. Ros and Alan Share
I heard him play in Chicago several years in Beethoven’s Double Concerto – a wonderful performance. Too young to leave us. May we remember you, always.
Such sad news. Performances with the Royal Northern Sinfonia – especially at the Barbican Beethoven weekend in February 2020 – were inspiring. Heartfelt sympathies to his family.
This is a shock. Lars was a wonderful musician and a warm human being. He will be very sorely missed. My wife (who assisted him for a while at the Schmid Agency) and I send our deepest sympathies to his wife and family. He still had so much to contribute to our musical life, it is a great tragedy.
One of the true greats of our time. A tragic loss.
Very sad news. A lovely tribute to him this morning on Radio3 from Petroc Trelawney.
It is sad that this is happening at a time when he is about to reach maturity…
Such sad news. I have a ticket for the concert he was to have conducted in Paris on 22nd of this month. I don’t think it has yet been announced who will replace him, but it will be a difficult moment for whoever it is.
His performance of the Goldberg Variations is my favourite. So many pianists treat the Aria as if it were a delicate piece of cut glass, but Lars Vogt gives it to us straight, no nonsense, sleeves rolled up!
Very sad, he is another artist taken too young ..I have had the privilege of seeing him in Manchester with the Hallé….and him seated near me in the choir circle in the watching the second half of the concert…RIP Lars….
Such sad news. May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family and close friends. Let us honour his memory by listening to his recordings which will be his lasting legacy. I’ll choose the Emperor Concerto.
This is really sad and tragic. RIP, dear Lars
I really have nothing to add . A wonderful pianist whose career I had followed since his performances at Leeds, and this little film was a wonderful performance of my favourite Brahms . RIP Lars Vogt