The German-Russian pianist has organised a counter-antisemitism concert at the Elbphilharmonie:
Hamburg, 10 July 2024: On the initiative of Igor Levit, the Elbphilharmonie is making an appeal to humanity with a solidarity concert. On 16 September, numerous artists will gather on the stage of the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall to protest against the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany. Alongside Levit, the line-up of performers includes Michel Friedman, Alan Gilbert, Malakoff Kowalski, Efrat Alony, Dirk von Lowtzow, Olli Schulz, Tim Mälzer, Düzen Tekkal and Ronya Othmann.
Since the brutal attack on 7 October at the latest, increasingly blatant anti-Semitism has also been observed in Germany; hatred and incitement are booming. Since then, artists led by Igor Levit have intervened several times to counter contempt for humanity with the power of art and the spirit of cooperation. Now music will be played, spoken and read together on stage at the Elbphilharmonie. All the artists involved want to set an example that is not merely symbolic. The proceeds from ticket sales will go to OFEK e.V., a counselling service specialised in anti-Semitic violence and discrimination, and to the Stiftung Bornplatzsynagoge, a foundation whose new building of the Bornplatz Synagogue is a symbol of hope for the future of Jewish life in Germany.
Igor Levit: »Few things help as much as compassion. Few things are as good as knowing that you are not alone with your feelings, your pain, your fears, your thoughts. I have always had this conviction. After 7 October, it has now become even stronger. The drama and the consequences of that day, the greatest crime against the Jewish people since the Shoah, are still omnipresent today. The pain of that day has not ended for us, neither for me, nor for countless people around the world. Our concert entitled ›Against Silence. Against Anti-Semitism‹ is exactly that: a brief moment of togetherness – an evening that gives us space and time together: to mourn, to hope, to reflect, to empathise. I am looking forward to it with all my heart.«
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