'It means the world to me': Igor Levit returns to perform in Israel - interview

ByLIRAN GURKIEWICZJULY 18, 2026 19:49Igor Levit, one of the most charismatic and renowned pianists of the generation, will perform a solo recital at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv on July 23.Born to a Russian-Jewish family, Levit emigrated with his parents to Germany in 1995, when he was just eight years old.A former child prodigy, the 39-year-old now boasts an impressive catalog of critically acclaimed studio albums, featuring celebrated recordings of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas, Brahms’ piano concertos, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s preludes and fugues.Beyond his musical mastery, Levit stands out as one of today’s most politically engaged artists. In the wake of the October 7 attacks, he clearly expressed his solidarity with Israel.To confront the backlash facing the Jewish community, he launched Against Silence. Against antisemitism at the Berliner Ensemble theater. This landmark solidarity campaign mobilized fellow artists to fight an alarming rise of antisemitism in Germany.World-class pianist Igor Levit, picutred at the German federal party conference of Alliance 90/The Greens on Nov. 9, 2018 in Saxony, Leipzig, received an antisemitic death threat in November 2019. (credit: JTA/JAN WOITAS/PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY IMAGES)The high-profile charity event was meant to break public silence, with 100% of the ticket proceeds donated to organizations supporting victims of hate crimes and strengthening local Jewish life.Being so outspoken has not come without a price; Levit’s preeminent activism has forced him to live, at times, under police protection.'You shout to the world, and the world shouts back'“You shout into the woods, to the world, and the world shouts back – that is nothing new to me,” he said, reclining on his couch at home in Germany.Yet, he added, dialogue was something he still welcomed. “As long as people don’t overstep it,” he said. “And if they do, they will face my reaction with force and a smile.”He is definitely not someone to mince words, adding bluntly that if someone decided to threaten him because they disliked his views, “they could go f*** themselves.”In November 2023, just weeks after the October 7 massacre and while Israel was under fire on multiple fronts, Levit was one of the first international artists to fly into the country.With major international flights canceled and normal cultural life halted, his decision to come was deeply personal. “It was out of pure desire to be with my people,” he said.During that visit, Levit played at alternative charity venues and hospitals, ranging from Ichilov Hospital to the Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center.Joining forces with Israeli singer Achinoam Nini (Noa), he performed for wounded civilians, soldiers, and the families of hostages. He described this as a transformative experience.Reflecting on how the past few years have reshaped him, he noted: “I couldn’t possibly answer you how specifically, but the person you are speaking to now is very different compared to the person I was three years ago.”Following those solidarity concerts, he then established the NO SILENCE label under Sony Classical to promote humanism, artistic freedom, and resistance to extremism.However, Levit said, he does not necessarily expect every artist to use their platform politically.“Everybody has a right to decide for themselves. I am not judging anyone who can’t face the pressure. I believe that one should, but engagement comes with a price.”Indeed, during our conversation, he said that his public support for Israel cost him about 90% of his acquaintances, though they were not part of his close-friend inner circle.His artistic responses have been equally poignant. In December 2023, Levit released Lieder ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), a musical composition born out of what he described as a “deepest inner need” to respond to the October 7 massacre and the subsequent rise of antisemitism. The album’s cover prominently features his Star of David necklace.The project served as both a personal outcry in the face of tragedy and a tangible tool for change. Levit donated all of the album’s proceeds to two German organizations fighting antisemitism and discrimination: OFEK e.V. and the Kreuzberg Initiative Against Antisemitism.“I wanted to use my craft to raise money for organizations that combat antisemitism and educate young people in schools regarding the roots and history of antisemitism,” Levit explained.On July 23, his upcoming performance at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium will mark his first full Israeli recital since the war began.'It means the world to play in Israel'“Simply put, it means the world to me to play in Israel,” he said. “It took long enough, and I hope it will become a regular thing.”Much like his earlier efforts, Levit will not profit from the evening. All proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Keynote Program, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s initiative for the musical education of youth.“I don’t want a penny for my concerts in Israel,” he said firmly, adding that it will continue to be this way for as long as he is grieving. The program features Schubert’s Sonata No. 20 in A major, Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, and Beethoven’s Appassionata – all highly dramatic works that mirror the intense struggle of the human spirit.The public misconception regarding classical musicians is that they reside in isolated ivory towers, a stereotype Levit completely shatters.His sonic world extends far beyond the classical canon; when asked about his musical influences outside of the classical realm, he first pointed to intense rock acts like Nine Inch Nails and Metallica, then revealed an even deeper passion.“I am actually a hip-hop nut,” he smiled. “It’s something that I grew up with ever since I was a kid, and it’s still important to me.”Without much encouragement, he went on to say that “it’s whatever Eminem came up with, or the early LL Cool J albums, but also the N.W.A albums. I like the language and the intensity of it.”When asked if he takes an interest in the prewar Jewish composers who were forced to emigrate from Nazi Germany to Mandatory Palestine, such as Paul Ben-Haim, Josef Tal, and Erich Walter Sternberg, Levit admitted that they still mark uncharted territory for him.“I never played Ben-Haim. I know that Lahav Shani conducts a lot of it; he made a beautiful recording of it some time ago. But I am only 39 years old, so there is time and space to discover, and I am greatly curious to discover more,” Levit said. “It will happen.”Given his boundless energy and fierce dedication to his heritage, Israeli audiences can certainly look forward to sharing in that journey of discovery, starting this July in Tel Aviv.Follow us on Google