Andras Schiff

With a phenomenal blend of knowledge, passion, humour, and memory, the great Hungarian pianist analyzes for his audiience in Wigmore Hall, London, all of Beethoven's piano sonatas. These lectures are fascinating and indispensable for those who seek a better understanding of these works. But be warned: after you hear his lecture on Op.27, nº2 ("Moonlight") the music will never be the same again

András Schiffs reputation as one of the great interpreters of the work of Franz Schubert is long-established. He has always maintained that Schuberts music is amongst the most moving ever written. Schiff underlined the point on his ECM New Series album with the C Major fantasies at the end of the 1990s, and he does so again on this remarkable recording, on which two Schubert sonatas, the Musical Moments, four Impromptus (D 935), the Hungarian Melody and an Allegretto are addressed on a period instrument, the fortepiano.

After his landmark recording of some of Johann Sebastian Bach's most important keyboard music, one of the great Bach interpreters of our time turns his attention to the composer's preferred instrument.

After tackling the sonatas for violin and piano of Bach, Busoni and Beethoven in 2017 – a “thoughtfully determined and subtly interconnected programme” according to Strad magazine –, the duo of Yuuko Shiokawa and András Schiff returns with striking renditions of Brahms’s Violin Sonata No. 1 and Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 2. Brahms’s First Violin Sonata in G major, known as the “Regenliedsonate” (Rain Sonata)”, is presented in a lush interpretation and stands in evocative juxtaposition with Schumann’s at times vigorously driving Sonata in D minor. Devoting themselves completely to the music of these close composer-friends, Shiokawa and Schiff once again display their own rare duo understanding throughout this third joint undertaking for ECM’s New Series. The album was produced by Manfred Eicher.

After tackling the sonatas for violin and piano of Bach, Busoni and Beethoven in 2017 n a ithoughtfully determined and subtly interconnected programmei according to Strad magazine n, the duo of Yuuko Shiokawa and Andras Schiff returns with striking renditions of Brahmsis Violin Sonata No. 1 and Schumannis Violin Sonata No. 2.

Yuuko Shiokawa and András Schiff are heard here in an insightful programme of sonatas for violin and piano which begins with Bach’s Sonata No.3 in E major, ends with Beethoven’s Sonata No.10 in G major, and has at its centre Busoni’s Sonata No. 2 in E minor. As on their earlier and widely-admired recording for ECM (featuring Schubert Fantasies), Shiokawa and Schiff play the music with absolute authority and deep understanding.

At the 2017 Proms, world-renowned pianist and Bach specialist Sir Andras Schiff gave an acclaimed performance of the whole of Book One of Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier. He returns to complete his journey through Bach's extraordinary work with a performance of Book Two of The Well-Tempered Clavier.