The first joint recording by Igor Levit, Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic has emerged from concerts in December 2023 and April 2024 at the Vienna Musikverein, which will be released as a triple album together with Levit's recording of Brahms' well-known solo piano works opp. 116-119 by Sony Classical Levit and Thielemann met artistically quite unplanned, although both had been curious about each other for a long time. In 2015, Levit spontaneously stood in for a colleague who had fallen ill and played Mozart's C major Concerto K. 467 with Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden in Munich. Despite an extremely short rehearsal period, the two hit it off straight away: "We have such a similar attitude that you don't even have to talk about many things," says Thielemann. And Levit adds: "When the piece begins, I simply have basic trust in you. I know I can't take a wrong turn. This unconditional trust is extraordinary". Igor Levit and Christian Thielemann both emphasize how important and valuable the collaboration with the Vienna Philharmonic is to them. For Levit, the recording of Brahms' popular solo works opp. 116-119 on the album simply felt right. The pianist says: "Brahms' music immediately touches you at the bottom of your heart. As if someone were shooting an arrow straight into your heart". The upcoming album closes with a special encore - the four-hand version of Brahms' Waltz Op. 39 No. 15, played by Igor Levit and Christian Thielemann. Levit explains: "Brahms is often the most constant music here, with very long breaths and a steady heartbeat. Now that I feel in the right place with this music, I couldn't be happier".