Described by the New York Times as one of the »most important artists of his generation«, this Russian-born pianist regularly performs with the world’s leading orchestras. He studied the piano in Hanover and was awarded the highest score in the institute’s history. As a multiple award-winning artist, he was named ›Artist of the Year 2020‹ at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards, followed in November 2020 by a nomination for a Grammy in the category ›Best Classical Instrumental Solo‹. His first recording of all the Beethoven piano sonatas, released in 2019, instantly went to Number 1 in the official classical charts.

Igor Levit played his Beethoven piano sonata cycles at the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, the Musikfest Berlin, in the Elbphilharmonie and in London’s Wigmore Hall, among others. Additionally, he has regularly given recitals in New York’s Carnegie Hall, in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and also in Vienna’s Musikverein. Concerts for the coming season are planned across the world in metropolises from Tokyo to Los Angeles. In spring 2021, the Lucerne Festival announced the first of a new piano festival curated by Igor Levit, planned for May 2023.

Igor Levit is also well-known for his political commitment for which he was awarded the 5th International Beethoven Prize in 2019. This outstanding pianist has been working together with The Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen for many years.

Conductor Laureate of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, having completed his 19-year tenure as Music Director in summer 2014, David Zinman has held positions as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre Français des Jeunes or Principal Conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

A regular guest with the world’s leading orchestras, the 2018/19 season includes appearances with the Wiener Symphoniker for their season opening, conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, as well as with the Orchestre national de Lyon, the Orchestre de Paris, the Konzerthaus Berlin and more. Zinman also returns to the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich for concerts and his now world-renowned masterclasses.

David Zinman’s extensive discography of more than 100 recordings has earned him numerous international honours, particularly for his interpretation of Beethoven’s symphonies with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, including five Grammy awards, two Grand Prix du Disque, two Edison Prizes, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis and a Gramophone Award.

In 2000, the French Ministry of Culture awarded David Zinman the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in October 2002 the City of Zürich Art Prize was awarded to him for his outstanding artistic efforts – making him the first conductor and first non-Swiss recipient of this award. More recently, Zinman received the prestigious Theodore Thomas Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and extraordinary service to colleagues in advancing the art and science of conducting.

In 2008, he won the Midem Classical Artist of the Year award for his work with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He was also the 1997 recipient of the prestigious Ditson Award from Columbia University in recognition of his exceptional commitment to the performance of works by American composers.