Twice Beethoven on fortepiano

The Hungarian master pianist András Schiff plays two of Beethoven's five piano concertos. He also conducts - the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Central European tradition
Master pianist András Schiff is always on the lookout for the best. The origin of a score is as intriguing to him as the development of his instrument. Schiff grew up in the Central European music tradition built on the pillars of Bach and Beethoven. He studied in Budapest, the birthplace of great conductors like Fritz Reiner, Eugene Ormandy and George Szell - like himself of Hungarian-Jewish descent.

András Schiff plays two Beethoven concertos
For Schiff, Bach and Beethoven are the alpha and omega of music, yet he did not appear in public with Beethoven's piano sonatas until he was fifty - "Beethoven is not for children". The pianist conducts himself, never wanting to be a maestro, but once even founding an orchestra "so as not to always go on tour alone". In Haydn, he appreciates the sparkling humour.