Pianist Igor Levit has signed an exclusive long-term recording agreement with Sony Classical. His first disc, due for release in 2013, will focus on Beethoven solo piano works.

The 25-year-old Russian is a BBC New Generation Artist and a 2012-13 ECHO Rising Star. He has appeared in recital at Cologne’s Philharmonie, Frankfurt’s Alte Oper and Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, and in concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski, the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Iván Fischer, Staatskapelle Dresden under Mikhail Jurowski and Wiener Symphoniker under Fabio Luisi.

Engagements this season include debuts with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and WDR Sinfonieorchester; and appearances at London’s Wigmore Hall, Berlin’s Philharmonie, Zurich’s Tonhalle, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and Vienna’s Musikverein. Levit will also become artist-in-residence at the 2013 Heidelberger Frühling.