Sir András Schiff

World-renowned pianist András Schiff is not to be missed in World Master Pianists. Around the world, he is adored as an interpreter of the classical repertoire, including the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. Schiff has performed with many leading orchestras and conductors, but in recent years has mainly concentrated on music for solo piano and concerts in which he conducts and/or plays solo simultaneously. His performances of the music of Bach are particularly renowned. At this recital, he will announce his performances on the spot and talk about them with great charm too! His explanation on that:

“During the difficult times of the pandemic, I did a lot of thinking. How can we revitalize musical life—what should we do differently, and how? Let’s be honest: our concerts are full of conventions, expectations, prejudices, and rituals. This isn’t necessarily beneficial, as it leads to uniformity. Why aren’t we more curious, more adventurous, more imaginative? Where are the surprises? Take piano recitals, for example. We pianists are expected to announce our programs many months or even years in advance, down to the smallest detail. That’s a huge burden. How is one supposed to know what you want to play in two years, seven months, and four days? That depends on many elements—the acoustics, the instrument, your mood on the day—all of these play a role. For me, it feels much more spontaneous to announce the program on the spot and to give a brief explanation of the pieces. This creates a connection with the audience—we’re there to experience something together. You must respect and trust one another. The audience has to trust that I will only present the finest works, prepared as well as possible. Conversely, I rely on the sensitivity and high intelligence of my audience.

In this way and there are other ideas we can experience concerts in a new and refreshing way. — A.S.”