Schiff on Beethoven, Again

Posted at 9:31 AM on November 28, 2008 by Gillian Martin (1 Comments)

Andras Schiff has been spending a lot of time with Beethoven in recent years, playing all 32 piano sonatas in a series of 8 recitals in London, New York and Los Angeles (and maybe other cities, too?). He's gotten reviews like this one from Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times:

He's thought these pieces through very thoroughly, and he is gadding about the country delivering his cycle, yet he manages to make every gesture seem as though he were discovering it for the first time. He is a remarkable Beethovenian -- fresh, original, riveting.

He's recorded them all, too, and Classical Minnesota Public Radio will bring those recordings to you in December. Starting Monday, listen in the 10 a.m. hour for your daily dose of Beethoven.

Looking for extra credit? Here's a link to audio for a series of lecture-demonstrations Schiff gave about the Beethoven sonatas when he played the whole cycle in London.

Comments (1)

Schiff's Beethoven lectures at the Wigmore has been an obsession with me for the past several months. I'm stunned by his phenomenal technique, insight and artistry. He has certainly changed the way that I listen to all of Beethoven's works and think about this master composer.

Posted by Bruce | December 9, 2008 5:47 AM