Before he began, he told the audience, “I should warn you that the cadenzas will be improvised.”
“The reponse was tremendous,” Kerrigan said. “[Levin] received a standing ovation and the audience realized the short preparation time involved.”
Monday morning, the Boston Globe ran the story on its front page, accompanied by a photo of the animated Levin in performance.
“This is a wonderful, intelligent musician,” Ozawa told the Globe. “You know, I have never before conducted a soloist who improvises his own cadenzas—I wasn’t sure when he was going to end, so I just watched him very closely! It is very enjoyable to work with someone whose mind is so clear.”
Last night, Levin played Beethoven’s second concerto in addition to the fourth. The second was also a last-minute addition and was prepared on one rehearsal with only a few members of the orchestra.
Brendel was scheduled to speak at Harvard tonight in Paine Hall, but his lecture has been cancelled.