Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte
Release Date: 12/15/2023
Today Igor Levit releases a new album as his personal artistic reaction to the October 7 attacks on Israel and the current rise in anti-Semitism worldwide. The album contains his selection of “Songs without Words” by Felix Mendelssohn and concludes with one Prelude by French Romantic composer Charles-Valentin Alkan. Igor Levit and his team have given their time pro-bono, and his proceeds will be donated to two German organizations fighting anti-Semitism - OFEK Advice Center for Anti-Semitic Violence and Discrimination and the Kreuzberg Initiative Against Anti-Semitism.
Igor Levit explains, “I made this recording out of a very, very strong inner necessity. I spent the first four or five weeks after the attack on October 7th in a mixture of speechlessness and total paralysis. And at some point, it became clear that I had no other tools than to react as an artist. I have the piano. I have my music. And so, the idea came to me to record these works, the “Songs without Words” and to donate my proceeds from this recording to two wonderful organizations that work in my hometown here in Berlin to help people who experience anti-Semitism and to help young people avoid falling into the clutches of anti-Semitism. It is my artistic reaction, as a person, as a musician, as a Jew, to what I have felt in the last few weeks and months. Or to put it more precisely, it is one of many reactions that came to mind.”
The album is now available digitally. CD coming soon.
Tracklisting
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19b / No. 1 in E Major. Andante con moto, MWV U 86
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19b / No. 2 in A Minor. Andante espressivo, MWV U 80
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19b / No. 4 in A Major. Moderato, MWV U 73
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19b / No. 6 in G Minor. Andante sostenuto, MWV U 78 "Venetian Gondola Song"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 30 / No. 1 in E-Flat Major. Andante espressivo, MWV U 103
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 30 / No. 3 in E Major. Adagio non troppo, MWV U 104
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 30 / No. 6 in F-Sharp Minor. Allegretto tranquillo, MWV U 110 "Venetian Gondola Song"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 38 / No. 2 in C Minor. Allegro non troppo, MWV U 115
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 38 / No. 6 in A-Flat Major. Andante con moto, MWV U 119 "Duetto"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 53 / No. 4 in F Major. Adagio, MWV U 114 "Sadness of Soul"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 53 / No. 5 in A Minor. Allegro con fuoco, MWV U 153 "Folksong"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 62 / No. 3 in E Minor. Andante maestoso, MWV U 117 "Funeral March"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 62 / No. 5 in A Minor. Andante con moto, MWV U 151 "Venetian Gondola Song"
- Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 102, No. 1 in E Minor. Andante un poco agitato, MWV U 162
- 25 Préludes, Op.31: No. 8, La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer
