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Russian-born Pianist Igor Levit is Awarded This Year’s German National Prize

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Russian-born pianist Igor Levit is the recipient of this year's German National Prize. Awarded by the German National Foundation, the Prize is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the unity of Germany, and solidarity between Germany and Europe.

Born in the Soviet Union in 1987, Levit and his family moved to Hannover in 1995. He later studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. Levit released his debut album, a set of Beethoven piano concertos, in 2007. Among his recognitions are the Luitpold Prize, given two years after the release of his first album, the Beethoven ring in 2017, and the Gramophone Classical Music Award and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2020. Beethoven remains an important figure in Levit's repertoire, as do Bach and Liszt.

German pianist Igor Levit plays piano in support of Israeli pianist Alon Ohel taken hostage by Hamas, at the James-Simon-Gallery on the museum island in Berlin on January 14, 2024, during an event to mark the 100th day of the Israeli hostages' captivity during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023 which resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Hamas, considered a
(Photo : JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)) German pianist Igor Levit plays piano in support of Israeli pianist Alon Ohel taken hostage by Hamas, at the James-Simon-Gallery on the museum island in Berlin on January 14, 2024, during an event to mark the 100th day of the Israeli hostages' captivity during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023 which resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Hamas, considered a "terrorist" group by the United States and the European Union, also seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to have been killed.
Coming from a Jewish family, Levit is a known advocate against antisemitism in Germany and has repeatedly made appeals to humanity since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Levit played the piano at the award ceremony, and said in his speech: "I firmly believe that protecting our democracy is our greatest task and at the same time our greatest challenge. A democracy that allows minorities, such as Jews, to no longer feel safe and leave the country is no longer a democracy."

Congratulating Levit, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas described him as someone "who stands up for democratic rights and freedom, who shows solidarity, who has internalized the spirit of our Basic Law." She adds: "Human dignity is always dignity of the other."

The German National Foundation was established in 1993 by former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt following the reunification of the two Germanies. It has been awarding the German National Prize since 1997. In 2019, the Prize was given to another musician-cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch.

Levit expressed his desire to use the prize money of 30, 000 euros to support people and organizations protecting Jewish life in Germany.

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