Martha Argerich is sick with flu. Who’s subbing?
mainDenis Kozhukhin replaces her tomorrow at the Philharmonie Berlin in duets with Gidon Kremer.
The Berlin Philharmonic, which is in Baden-Baden, is rushing in young Igor Levit for Sunday’s Schumann concerto… his debut with the orchestra and the major-league festival circuit. Riccardo Chailly conducts.
UPDATE: Not far for Igor to go: he’s currently teaching at Heidelberg Spring Festival’s Chamber Music Academy.
Did either organization offer refunds to folks who bought tickets specifically to hear Argerich?
Those who have tickets should hold on to them. They are in for a treat as Igor Levit is a magnificent pianist, hardly known.
I heard Levit in his debut at Vienna’s Musikverein last year as a late replacement for an indisposed Pollini.
Admittedly these were not ideal conditions – Levit flew in hours before the performance – and regrettably he made a poor impression.
I returned my Musikverein tickets when they subbed Levit for Pollini last summer. For him to sub for Argerich is even worse. Wildly different pianists.
The Staatsoper offered a refund, don’t know about the Philharmonic.
In my professional opinion Igor Levit is on of the best pianists in his generation I worked together. I do trust in his big future. Last year he performed with my orchestra in Wiener Musikverein, and it was very good concert indeed.
Toi-Toi-Toi Igor for your debut with phantastic BPH under the baton of such great Maestro as Riccardo Chailly!
Take it or Levit.
As far as the concerto is concerned, unless the Philharmonie had increased prices specifically for Ms. Argerich’s performance, I cannot understand why a refund would be offered. I assume that like almost all performing arts organisations there will be a disclaimer on all the marketing materials to the effect that
“programmes and artists are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to unavoidable change.”