Update: Igor Levit won’t play without Franz

Update: Igor Levit won’t play without Franz

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

November 04, 2024

We reported earlier that Franz Welser-Möst had withdrawn from Cleveland’s cycle of Beethoven piano concertos because he is still recovering from the effects of successful cancer treatment.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.

Comments

  • Tet says:

    The teacher (Sohn) gets the First, the student (Lim) gets the Fifth.

    Lim’s Beethoven 5th at the Proms was … intriguing. See youtube.

  • Steven B says:

    Quite the impressive lineup! Yunchan’s Cleveland debut is long overdue!

  • Alexy says:

    What a diva! Just as well, because his replacements are better pianists.

  • WU says:

    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.

  • Samuel Harris says:

    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.

  • Piano Fan says:

    What an insufferable diva! I’ll enjoy the variety of these equally fine or greater pianists.

    • Bone says:

      Good for you.

    • Tesse says:

      Yes. I wish FWM a complete and speedy recovery so whatever is needed for his recovery. We understand and hope to see him again soon
      And I am totally a Levit fan. But it feels very disrespectful to Cleveland fans and the orchestra musicians
      to cancel us.
      Congratulations to their programming staff for putting together a fine roster of substitutions
      And an opportunity to see Lim is a total win

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Wow, Stephen Hough and Garrick Ohlsson. Wonderful.

  • PL says:

    It really is unfortunate, especially since it put the administration in the difficult position of finding replacements for the entire cycle on short notice. Given that he already had to cancel in March due to illness I can’t imagine this is someone they’d want to have back again soon. Not worth it.

  • Trevor S says:

    I suspect that without FWM there is no reason for Igor to go to Cleveland, who would wish to go there of their own free will. Berlin infinitely preferable

  • RW2013 says:

    Didn’t Schiff also once cancel when his conductor cancelled (and was not happy with the replacement)?

  • Joel Stein says:

    I had tickets to a Beethoven with Gilels, Szell and the New York Phil in perhaps 1970. Szell was ill ( he died that summer), and Gilels cancelled. I cannot remember the replacements.

  • Joel Stein says:

    A little more info on the Gilels/Szell Beethoven cycle scheduled for November 12-16, 1970. Gilels canceled after Szell died the previous summer. The replacements were Gina Bachauer and Milton Katims. The scheduled programs were changed.

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