Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Sir András Schiff

Sir András Schiff

Sir András Schiff

András Schiff is a master of the Germanic repertoire, especially the works of Bach, which he has performed tirelessly for half a century. He now tackles The Art of Fugue, a score as monumental as it is enigmatic.

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir András Schiff

The career of Sir András Schiff, one of the world’s leading pianists, has already lasted over half a century. You can frequently also experience the all-round musician as a conductor and he regularly collaborates with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Schiff and this orchestra share an interest in historically informed interpretations. In 2021, the perfectly matched duo documented its artistic connection in an acclaimed recording of Brahms’ piano concertos and now presents works by two composers who embody the very essence of German Romanticism: Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. The renown of Robert Schumann’s piano concerto is so great to this day that hardly anyone knows the other works he composed for piano and orchestra. Anyone who wants to change this can let themselves be inspired by Schumann’s »Allegro appassionato« at the start of the concert, which exhausts the whole spectrum of romantic moods from the greatest tenderness to gloomier drama and, as an aside, lights a real firework of pianistic brilliance. Afterwards, Sir András Schiff swaps the keys for the baton and conducts excerpts from Mendelssohn’s »A Midsummer Night’s Dream« – a string of pearls of perfectly drawn scenes and character sketches whose elegance and casual sophistication is consistently astonishing. We come full circle when Schiff returns to the piano in order to conclude the evening with Schumann’s piano concerto, which is quite rightly one of the most popular perennials of the concert repertoire!

Portrait Concert Sir András Schiff

One of András Schiff’s maxims is: »It’s important to be able to listen.« This principle applies especially to chamber music, which has always been a matter close to his heart. Because it is precisely this togetherness, and this listening and responding to each other, that are for him the most beautiful form of making music. Schiff now delivers precisely those kinds of moments of musical bliss with close musical friends such as the tenor Julian Prégardien and the cellist Julia Hagen. For the programme, Schiff has selected Romantic works by his favourite composers. These include Franz Schubert the prince of song and Robert Schumann, whose 1840 »Eichendorff« lieder cycle is on the programme. The programme also features Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 2, which was premiered in Leipzig in 1852, and the Piano Quartet No. 1 by Schumann’s friend Brahms, which was premiered in Hamburg in 1861.

Cappella Andrea Barca / Sir András Schiff

András Schiff in his own garden, exploring with relish Bach’s Triple Concerto for flute, violin and harpsichord and the enchanted paths of two of Mozart’s most awe-inspiring piano concertos.

András Schiff & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Schumann

The Concertgebouw’s famous Main Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, well-known for its exceptional acoustics and special atmosphere. In the Main Hall, you will feel history. Here, Gustav Mahler conducted his own compositions, as did Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. Sergei Rachmaninoff played his own piano concertos in the Main Hall. This is also where musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Horowitz and Yehudi Menuhin gave legendary performances. Right up to now, the Main Hall offers a stage to the world’s best orchestras and musicians. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Main Hall for yourself!

Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Sunwook Kim

Pianist Sunwook Kim multi-tasks with the high octane Chamber Orchestra of Europe in a concert featuring a Beethoven double.

JÖRG WIDMANN, ANTOINE TAMESTIT & SIR ANDRÁS SCHIFF

The music of Robert Schumann has long been a major influence on Jörg Widmann’s own compositions. Joined by Sir András Schiff and Antoine Tamestit, he now brings three of Schumann’s works to the Pierre Boulez Saal that draw inspiration from poetic and non-musical ideas and reflect the Romantic fascination with the world of fairy tales. Alban Berg’s aphoristic Four Pieces of 1913 provide a striking contrast. The program concludes with Mozart’s “Kegelstatt” Trio, the historical model for the unusual combination of clarinet, viola, and piano.

Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Sunwook Kim

The pianist Sunwook Kim has been acclaimed for his sensitivity, brilliance and stylistic confidence – all qualities well-suited to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, whose Piano Concertos No. 3 and No. 4 he performs with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. While the Third is tragic, serious and combative, the Fourth is lyrical, impetuous and playful. Two works by contemporary British composers will also be performed: Anna Clyne's string work Stride, which is inspired by Beethoven's music, and Helen Grime's Elegiac inflections, which demonstrates the diverse sonic possibilities of a wind ensemble.

Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Iestyn Davies / Robin Ticciati

»The Chamber Orchestra of Europe is all about the music. In concert, this magical group unleashes an unbridled, emotional fervour, underpinned by profound wisdom. It is a privilege to work with this orchestra,« conductor Robin Ticciati raves about the democratically organised orchestra, with which he has been a regular guest at the Elbphilharmonie for almost ten years now. This orchestra-conductor dream team is now building on its celebrated 2019 Mozart project, and has invited Grammy Award-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies to conjure up magical moments in the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall with arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and George Frideric Handel. The concert comes to an end with Mozart’s »Haffner« Symphony, whose lively finale includes melodies from the opera »Die Entführung aus dem Serail«, composed in the same year.