Series: Igor Levit performs all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas - Igor Levit to Perform All 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas in Historic 2026–27 Series
Pianist Igor Levit will perform all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas in a major concert series across North Rhine-Westphalia. The ambitious programme begins in October 2026 and runs until July 2027, marking the lead-up to the 200th anniversary of the composer's death in March 2027. Eight venues will host the events, starting with two opening nights at Essen Philharmonie.
The series kicks off in October 2026 at Philharmonie Essen, where Levit will play the first of his eight recitals. Over the following months, he will take the stage at Cologne Philharmonie, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, and Heinersdorff Konzerte. Further performances are scheduled in Bochum's Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr, Dortmund Concert Hall, Düsseldorf's Tonhalle, Wuppertal's Historische Stadthalle, and Duisburg's Mercatorhalle.
Levit has long championed Beethoven's sonatas, describing them as a complete expression of human emotion. His 2019 recording of the full cycle earned widespread acclaim, reinforcing his reputation as a leading interpreter of the composer's work. The 2026–27 series offers audiences a rare chance to experience the sonatas live in their entirety. While the concerts coincide with the anniversary year of Beethoven's death, no official city-wide commemorations in Bonn or elsewhere in North Rhine-Westphalia have been confirmed. Other orchestras, such as Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, will perform Beethoven's works—like the *Egmont* Overture in Worms and *Otello* in Bonn—but these events remain separate from Levit's project.
The series concludes in July 2027, months after the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's passing. Levit's performances will bring the composer's piano sonatas to audiences across the region, offering a focused celebration of his enduring legacy. Tickets and exact programme details for each venue are expected to be announced closer to the start date.
