Pianist

At the Lucerne Piano Fest, Mert Yalniz shared the stage with renowned pianists Igor Levit, Fred Hersch, and Johanna Summer in a captivating fusion of classical performance and improvisation. As a master’s student of Levit at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, Yalniz demonstrated his artistic prowess with an impassioned performance of Beethoven’s Sonata Appassionata, while also asserting himself as both a composer and a creative force.

The evening presented an exciting blend of Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen, iconic works by Beethoven, and spontaneous improvisations by Johanna Summer and Fred Hersch. The four pianists engaged in a playful and virtuosic exchange, drawing inspiration from historical improvisation duels—evoking the legendary organ battles of J.S. Bach—alongside the energy of modern jazz and rap battles.

As Igor Levit described the event: “At the heart of it all is a celebration of music and collaboration. We start with individual performances, engage in spirited musical challenges, and ultimately unite for multi-hand performances—harmonized in a spirit of creativity and shared joy.”

This performance was a standout moment of the festival, seamlessly combining classical virtuosity, improvisation, and the joyful spirit of artistic collaboration.

In this groundbreaking collaboration, renowned pianist Igor Levit and choreographer Richard Siegal of the Ballet of Difference unite to celebrate the spirit of resistance, the power of individual freedom, and the ongoing fight for a just and equitable future. At the heart of the evening lies Frederic Rzewski's The People United Will Never Be Defeated—a powerful musical testament to global revolution, and arguably one of Rzewski's most beautiful and profound compositions.

Through this project, Siegal and Levit delve into themes of art, activism, salon culture, and the rhythms of everyday life, weaving a solidarity polyphony that amplifies the voices of all classes and communities. The performance provides a platform for the marginalized, underscoring the universal call for unity and change.

The world premiere of this evocative performance will take place on May 18th in Bregenz, with Mert Yalniz, a master student of Igor Levit, performing the piano variations in subsequent performances in Cologne. The music features 36 Piano Variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated by Frederic Rzewski, Sergio Ortega, and Eduardo Carrasco.

© With kind permission from Coda Ediciones Musicales / Ediciones Quiroga (Madrid) and Zen-On Music Company (Tokyo).

A production by ecotopia dance productions and Bregenzer Frühling, in collaboration with Schauspiel Köln. Supported by Kunststiftung NRW.