András Schiff

"Imagine: you go to a restaurant, you know the chef, but there's no menu," said András Schiff. With a somewhat shy voice and endearing Hungarian accent, he addressed his audience in London. After the corona lockdowns, the seventy-one-year-old pianist felt it was time for a new approach. Because how could he know a year and a half in advance what he wanted to play on that one evening? Since then, he has been inspired by the moment. So, what you hear is a surprise.

Like last season, the Hungarian master will personally introduce the works. And what an unforgettable experience that was! 'His playing is crystal clear,' a critic of The New York Times wrote. 'Listening to Schiff is like looking into a clear flowing stream, and seeing all the coloured stones at the bottom.' Chances are those stones tonight will be the colour of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Bartók. Because those are his favourite composers, and that's what made him so famous. Whatever it will be: 'Trust me, just like you would trust that chef,' Schiff concluded his London opening remarks. 'I picked the very best music.'