Harmony Amidst Chaos: A Pianist’s Journey Against Antisemitism || Igor Levit

(special thanks for TLV Salon for organizing this event! check them out at: www.tlvsalon.com)
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About a month ago, in early November, several families of the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct 7th gathered at the Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center for a special evening. There was no agenda, no politicians, no diplomats, just the families, a piano and Igor Levit.
Levit is a world renowned pianist who’s been described as “one of the great musicians of his generation”. He was born in a city called Gorky in the Soviet Union to a Jewish family. In 1995 his family moved to Germany where he lives today, in Berlin. Igor Levit is one of the most prominent, young musicians in both Germany and around the world.
After Oct 7th as the war began and antisemitism raged around the world, Igor was faced with the question: what can I, a pianist, do for my people? And Igor’s answer didn’t come without risks.
Igor Levit won the silver medal at the 2005 Rubinstein competition and has graced concert halls and major classical music festivals worldwide with his performances. His distinguished recordings, including the complete Beethoven sonatas and acclaimed albums of varied compositions, have garnered widespread praise. We are thrilled and honored to be joined by Igor Levit on this live episode of The Two Nice Jewish Boys Podcast here at SOHO House Tel Aviv. We’ll be talking to Igor about his life, his career and what the hell he’s doing in Israel.
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[@schwanzusminimus3321]

This is getting better and better 🥰

[@bastimeier]

It took him a lot of time to somewhat counter the co-host's generalizing statement "that the arts, music, cultural scene in Germany is very prominently pro-Hamas".
45:35
Not to mention islamistic voices in Germany (many of them refugees) for whom that statement is probably adequate, to allege that those in the German arts scene who are concerned about the right-wing Netanyahu government's counter-attack (after 1.200 Israelis and other nationals had been killed by terrorist group Hamas), which supposedly will soon have cost 30.000 civilians in Gaza and the West Bank their lives, are in general pro-Hamas and/or anti-semitic, is simply not correct.
And luckily he countered the American co-host's outrageous implicit statement right away that Germany as a nation was on the brink of deporting Jews in 2024.
49:08

[@SuperKripke]

I respect Levit as an artist but was disappointed that he continues to ascribe to Zionism and reject the possibility that grave atrocities are taking place against the Palestinians.

[@Tawahaj]

Without Zionism there wouldn't even be a nation called Israel. Giving up Zionism is effectively giving up the jewish statehood and homeland.

[@suesmith2183]

He's naive.

[@Tawahaj]

Without Zionism there wouldn't even exist Israel. There is nothing wrong with Zionism as such. Without a nation Jews were massacred all the time and lived as second class citiziens in the near east. Thanks to the Zionists this era is over.

[@boonyboony100]

With great respect to Igor who is one of the most talented artists who I have ever heard, what about the innocent Palestinians being killed? What about the kids? What about the torture of Palestinian detainees? These guys are sitting here in a gorgeous building discussing Beethoven whilst a few miles away innocent families are starving? What about them?

[@maralynfarber2068]

This is just excellent. With huge gratitude and love, Maralyn in Virginia🩵🇮🇱💙