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We reported earlier that Franz Welser-Möst had withdrawn from Cleveland’s cycle of Beethoven piano concertos because he is still recovering from the effects of successful cancer treatment.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

  • MOST READ TODAY: