Update: Igor Levit won’t play without Franz
OrchestrasWe reported earlier that Franz Welser-Möst had withdrawn from Cleveland’s cycle of Beethoven piano concertos because he is still recovering from the effects of successful cancer treatment.
It has just been confirmed that his chosen pianist has pulled out in sympathy.
Igor Levit is to be replaced by Stephen Hough, Yunchan Lim, Garrick Ohlsson, Minsoo Sohn and Orion Weiss. (Sohn is Lim’s teacher.)
Cleveland’s Associate Conductor Daniel Reith will take over stick duties.
The teacher (Sohn) gets the First, the student (Lim) gets the Fifth.
Lim’s Beethoven 5th at the Proms was … intriguing. See youtube.
Quite the impressive lineup! Yunchan’s Cleveland debut is long overdue!
What a diva! Just as well, because his replacements are better pianists.
Weird, usually you retire in solidarity because of a controversial problem … but it’s Levit, so … … obviously an upgrade on the piano as a result. Really interesting lineup.
Maestro Welser-Most direction of TCO has provided me wirh countless memorable concerts over past 2 decades. I was looking forward to giving him a standing o this Wed before his already delayed return. Instead, I wish him a speedy and full recovery.
What an insufferable diva! I’ll enjoy the variety of these equally fine or greater pianists.