András Schiff

Sir András Schiff is world-renowned as a pianist, conductor, pedagogue and lecturer. Called “one of the most penetratingly serious masters of the keyboard before the public today” (Boston Globe), Sir András continues to awe audiences and critics alike. Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953, Sir András studied piano at the Liszt Ferenc Academy with Pal Kadosa, György Kurtág, and Ferenc Rados; and in London with George Malcom. He has performed cycles of complete Beethoven sonatas and the complete works of J.S. Bach, Haydn, Schubert and Bartók, which constitute an important part of his work. Having collaborated with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, he now focuses primarily on solo recital, play-conducting appearances, and exclusive conducting projects. In the 2022-2023 season, he was named Artist-In-Residence by the New York Philharmonic, with whom he performed nine concerts. His Bach has become an annual highlight at the BBC Proms, and he regularly performs at the Verbier, Salzburg and Baden-Baden Festivals as well as Wigmore Hall. In the 2023-2024 season Sir András plays recitals presented by Carnegie Hall, Celebrity Series of Boston, Chicago Symphony Presents, Washington Performing Arts, Club Musical de Québec, Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, and Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City. Sir András now prefers announcing each recital program from the stage; as The New York Times has pointed out, “he has an impish streak and likes to surprise.” Schiff joins the Philadelphia Orchestra to direct and perform piano concertos by Haydn and Mozart and conducts Schubert’s second symphony. Vicenza is home to Cappella Andrea Barca, his own chamber orchestra founded in 1999, comprised of international soloists, chamber musicians and friends. He curates an annual festival in Vicenza at the Teatro Olimpico. Sir András enjoys close relationships with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. In 2018 he accepted the role of Associated Artist with the OAE, complementing his interest in performing on period keyboard instruments; in 2024 he conducts the complete symphonies of Mendelssohn, directing the composer’s two concertos from the keyboard. With a prolific discography, he established an exclusive relationship in 1997 with producer Manfred Eicher and ECM New Series. Highlights have included the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas recorded live from Zurich; solo recitals of Schubert, Schumann and Janáček; and J.S. Bach’s Partitas, Goldberg Variations, and Well-Tempered Clavier. His most recent discs, a two- CD set of works by J.S. Bach performed on the clavichord, were released in early 2023. He continues to support new talent, primarily through his “Building Bridges” series, which offers performance opportunities to promising young artists. He also teaches at the Barenboim-Said and Kronberg Academies and gives frequent lectures and masterclasses. In 2017 his book “Music Comes from Silence,” essays and conversations with Martin Meyer, was published by Bärenreiter and Henschel. Sir András Schiff’s many honors include the International Mozarteum Foundation’s Golden Medal (2012), Germany’s Great Cross of Merit with Star (2012, the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal (2013), a Knighthood for Services to Music (2014) and a Doctorate from the Royal College of Music (2018). He was awarded the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance in 2021 from The Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.