“Citizen. European. Pianist.” These are the three words Igor Levit uses to describe himself. He is the musician who will perform all of Prokofiev’s piano concertos across three concerts, leading the Budapest Festival Orchestra March 17, 18 and 19. In addition to a different concerto each night, the program will also feature symphonic pieces, allowing audiences at the three performances to enjoy an additional two symphonies, an overture and two suites, all from the oeuvre of the same composer. 

The incredible undertaking will kick off with Prokofiev’s first and last piano concerto and his Symphony No. 5. At the second concert, audiences will be whisked away on a magical musical journey including the Overture on Hebrew Themes, Piano Concerto No. 2 — undertaken by only the most daring pianists — and the Cinderella suite, paying homage to Tchaikovsky. The third performance will feature The Love for Three Oranges opera suite, the Classical symphony, as well as Piano Concerto No. 3 — Prokofiev’s best-known and most traditional piano concerto in three movements — and, finally, Piano Concerto No. 4. 

Prokofiev’s music is both theatrical and deeply sincere — it is almost as though the composer had opened up pieces of his soul to the audience. Behind the thick musical fabric lies a conversation which every member of the audience is able to join.