Igor Levit is the German national pianist

V. Lind says:

Exactly. Most people who speak out on an issue have other employment. I have never seen the argument that being a successful artist, or musician, or anything else “famous,” means a person has to check his/her humanity at the door.

And it is hardly shocking that Jewish pianist speaks out against anti-Semitism. It should not be any more shocking if a Gentile pianist — or anything else — does.

Klemperer says:

I think it makes not much sense in our day to even tell slightly differing views. But well. The problem with Levit’s latest interviews after the appalling and horrible terror attacks and killings by Hamas is not his wonderful love for Israel’s innocent victims. It is something else. If you live outside of Germany, you would believe after Levit or Herta Müller that a real majority of Germans were “against Israel” or “pro Hamas”. Which is simply – not true. Nearly no country in the world from left to the far right AfD (they love Netanyahu), in 98% of all media, is 100/0 for the reaction of the Israeli government and 100/0 against people in Gaza. No demonstrations like in the USA by students. (Even if Germany would allow free speech instead of not allowing demonstrations and a congress – there would be nearly nothing, a very few who came in 2015 as refugees are nowhere a majority.) It is a misperception of Igor Levit, and you can ask yourself, how he could fail so deeply here. Levit quotes some idiots, and yes, you find Antisemitic people and idiots in Germany. Always. But they are a tiny, tiny minority at the moment, regarding this war after October 7. Quite to the contrary the huge sufferings of 2,3 millions of people trapped in Gaza are nearly totally neglected in Germany. Demonstrations are not allowed, any voice asking for a ceasefire was cancelled.
Levit centers about himself as being deeply hurt. In a ZEIT interview Levit says: „don’t you, in Germany, see that this is against yourself?“ – But he is wrong here, and as said, 99% agree with him and are mercyless regarding the horror millions in Gaza endure. The bias of Levit is the problem. Not his wonderful empathy for the victims of the cruel Hamas killings and atrocities.

A wiser man said: is it really so impossible to see the obvious? That all who defend Hamas and can’t see the sufferings of Israel – and at the same time all who defend Netanyahu’s and his politicians war on 2,3 millions living in Gaza without any chance to escape – are both crude? Lacking empathy? And that both sides are way off track? Is that really necessary to have 100/0 messages? But this is what besides nearly all media of Gemany also Levit and Herta Müller did. And friends from other countries are asking me (I come from a Jewish family, dark ages up to father and aunt) worried, “is it so bad”? No! Toi toi toi it wasn’t up to now, and hopefully it won’t ever be. A near total lack of feeling and empathy is what huge majorities in Germany have for the sufferings of people in Gaza. Ask Germans who look around and talk to many people. Do. Igor Levit is wrong here. It is about killings of innocent people of Israel, and now in Gaza. Not about us, no reason we felt feel deeply hurt by something that simply is not even true. Germany is heavily biased pro Netanyahu and his government.

Shut UP And Play says:

Yes. Please. No one, except the other obvious virtue signallers, gives a toss. Of course, in the case of “Igor”, the playing itself is not much to talk about. Hence, all the talk. See any of a number of increasingly fawning articles, including a recent one in the Guardian in which he claims without the slightest evidence that “people keep saying they want to deport me”. Apparently no one interviewing him ever asks for actual facts, like: Who? Who actually said this (supposedly multiple times)? Where did this happen? Was there a police report?

But that would go against the narrative, of course.