In conversation with Sir András Schiff - 2020

“You live with a masterpiece all your life, and each year you know a little bit more about it.” - Sir Andras Schiff in an intriguing conversation with James Madison Cox, IPO Principal Horn, in which he reveals his thoughts about Beethoven and Bach, about what technology has changed for us and about what we had in the past but no longer exists.
Video - Culiner Creative Circle
#Conversation #AndrásSchiff

[@briananderson8428]

"You live with a masterpiece all your life, and each year you know a little bit more about it." That is pure wisdom. Thank you so much for this fabulous interview.

[@TorAndreKongelf]

One of our most respected musicians. His dedication to Bach, Beethoven and Schubert is unmatched in our history. I hope this man turns out to be 140 years old and continue to play for just as long.

[@jaikee9477]

He is totally in love with Schumann as well but mostly performs it at home for himself, as he revealed in a German interview.

[@alexgrimsson6143]

SCHIFF ala MENDELSSOHN is briefly but valuably noted, too

[@23gregorius]

Yes, I admire his evaluation of the song :"Der Doppelgänger" as a piece having a deepness which Wagner never had. Here we have the poem from Heinrich Heine which contains his intense personal feelings he had when having been in love to his niece who rejected him. Until today science of psychology has not touched the fact that inner feelings can make themselfe independent acting somehow as an independent inner being, just ad a Doppelgänger. And in rare moments as nightmares one can become aware of such independent beings. If you study Indian spirituality as the teaching of Sri Aurobindo and the Mothet you know how such Doppelgänger come into existence and by which rituals one can control or eliminate them. Schubert has given to this extraordinary poem a melody which one cannot forget. In Germany we call such rare melodies "Ohrwurm", earworm. Wether you want it or not such melodies make you sing them endlessly . You go into a concert with classical ( not horrible modern atonal music) and return home when your earworm makes you sing the captivating melody again and again.

[@dewittreeve4345]

A very impressive man of culture and thought.

[@panossolo909]

Sir Andras is a “musikalisches opfer” to us all. His interviews in English do not really fully convey his thoughts:his English is very good but is a limitation to the subtleties of his thoughts. I can say this because I have been just about able to follow interviews of his in German, a language he has better command of. This was a very nice interview mainly because of the very likable musician interviewer. He projects such a kind personality and does not use any of his knowledge to show off… but only for the purpose of constructing the next question. Am I the only person to be impressed with the interviewer’s very nice vibes? I wander, as everybody naturally talks about Sir Andras…

[@quaver1239]

A great gift, being able to listen for almost 50 minutes to András Schiff. Everything about him restores my soul to a semblance of peace. Thank you also to the good interviewer, to my beloved Israel and to KZbin.

[@gordian99]

I agree with you comments completely. It is thoroughly enjoyable to listen to him describe how important music is.

[@normhall1622]

I am at 78 just starting to listen to Andras Schiff. I can't believe I haven't been listening to him previously. He not only is a great pianist but has very fine programs on music and the great composers. I just purchased his complete set of Beethoven concertos plus the Brahms. I find his playing very spiritual with great love for the music. I guess I will be playing Schiff along with the Rudolf Serkin sets that I have loved for years.

[@tbarrelier]

He has a series where he lectures on the Beethoven sonatas. It is available on line. Marvelous!

[@davidhertzberg]

Please check out his recordings of the complete keyboard works of JS Bach (issued on Decca perhaps 40 years ago). There's enough there to last a lifetime.

[@bettycherniak1168]

Loved the whole conversation, politics and all. Everybody has the right to their opinion, which is always informed by their particular background. One of the greatest musicians of our day. Hearing him reminds me of Vladimir Horowitz’s conversations with David Duval. It’s as if they knew the great composers and still live in that world.

[@bbas1685]

Such a pleasure to hear Sir András speak about music. He is one of my favourite pianists. Thank you for posting this interview.

[@rachs57]

Andras, with all his brilliance is so modest, even knowing his full worth as a pianist, teacher etc. he remains gentle and modest and this in large is part his charm.

[@KSfan4ever]

It feels like an honor to be able to listen to and gain musical insight from the incomparable genius of Andras Schiff. Thank you.

[@vittoriomarano8230]

Mr. Schiff ... ...one of the gratest gift to human kind! 🎹🎼👏👏👏

[@robertoa.m.3984]

A truly wonderful human being! Great cultural and moral integrity. Proud to be Jewish!

[@mmbmbmbmb]

Wundervolle 50 Minuten. Always having been fond of András Schiff's playing ... this conversation opened an unknown perspective of him. Am grateful for it, since I truly feel enriched. THANK you !!!

[@zinam5795]

This''s very REAL Portrait of great wisdom Musician! THANKS SO MUCH

[@lixing1991]

I appreciate that we have Internet and KZbin now to watch and listen more from Mr schiff ❤️

[@lixing1991]

Especially in this difficult time , when so many bad things happen in 2020, his piano playing and his words can always bring peace to me.

[@arthurtfm]

Thank you, Mr. Schiff. You are an inspiration to me.

[@marcelafraustosalas814]

Sir Andras Schiff is a great musician. Always with his comments full of wisdom!!!. Thank you so much!!! You inspire us.

[@kevinmaestroful]

Excellent interview, Schiff is always active.

[@under88Me]

Great conversation. I just decided to reduce the use of social media and listen to music related conversations instead.

[@bayreuth79]

I heard Andras Schiff play the Bach Partitas in Venice (La Fenice) in the summer of 2019. He gave an amazing performance of these extraordinary pieces by the great Bach.

[@Zephyrus47]

It's literally insane that this guy did the Well Tempered Clavier 1&2, The Goldberg Variations, Suites, all of Beethoven's Sonatas, all of Mozart's sonatas, a lot of Schubert, and much more.

[@IsraelPhilharmonicOrchestra]

Sir András Schiff is indeed a man of many qualities and abilities

[@kevinmaestroful]

I couldn't agree more, insanely good! not to mention all of the piano keyboard concertos of Bach, Hadyn (including all his sonatas and other works) Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Chopin, Dvorak, the list goes on then all the song cycles of Schubert, all piano pieces of Medellsohn, Bartok (including concerti) then other composers like Janacek,. He says he's not a Chopin specialist, has anyone seen his documentary on Chopin? and he's recorded and played a ton of Chopin also all keyboard sonatas of Scarlatti plus different contempories of Bach's time.. and he even played lots of Liszt when younger including his piano concerto and other composers such as Shostakovich etc.. I don't know of anyone else who has such an extensive repetoire, it seems everything he touches turns to gold, a real interpretive genius.

[@agamaz5650]

all Chopin too

[@Numberonesorabjifan]

@@agamaz5650 he has Chopin as well? Do you know where I can't find his recordings?

[@agamaz5650]

@@Numberonesorabjifan chopin schiff

[@massimolonardi7886]

Grazie mille Maestro!

[@salinsclassicalorganinspir8415]

what a great privilege to listen to such a great artist articulate his thoughts so lucidly and his capacity to find something fresh in the works he has already mastered. The ever evolving mystery that brings a special spiritual depth to the music of Bach and Beethoven I believe is really the essence even of science that is forever eluding discovery with every discovery made. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@emilianocorradi4079]

Magnificent interview. Thank you so much!

[@60beats44]

Thank you and proof that the internet is not universally evil.

[@geert574]

my favourite pianist, he's consistently high quality and recorded a lot. The go to guy for Bach. Volodos, Hamelin, Schiff these can go above the forest of crap recordings

[@charleslyall5857]

Great interview with a man of integrity, insight and superlative musicianship.

[@louisdresse8650]

Thank you dear Sir , you are not only a great great musician and my reference as an amateur pianist loving Schubert , but you are also an honest and decent man as you oppose this awfull and horrible right wing populism which is sweeping accross our world ! Thank you so much !

[@merlindavids]

God bless Hungary and their bravery to resist the self-destroying EU left politics. Seeing France, Belgium, Spain etc...being absolutely devastated culturally, without identity or tradition. I wonder who the hell will attend Schiff’s recitals in the near future. I am a musician and I assure you that despite the increasingly high number of muslims in Europe I have never seen a single one in my concerts. And it’s no wonder! Schiff is an excellent pianist, but politically brainwashed with this western political correctness that covers up a change of paradigm and the destruction of our family and culture.

[@quaver1239]

Well said. Agree with every word. Thank you.

[@disienna]

A certain sadness when it’s over. A certain solemn when it ends. A certain love when it’s going. A certain interest when it twists and turns and bends.

[@Vioolconcert]

What a great musician and beautiful human being!! Thank you very much for this warm, educational and nice interview...

[@quaver1239]

Delightful interview. Thank you.

[@agamaz5650]

he is always so chill

[@dantelomas88]

Very inspiring as usual to hear Sir Schiff!

[@izabellamardo1074]

Adoro Andras Schiffer very talentoso

[@gedeijozsef]

I am very proud that András Schiff received his first inspiration and genius from Hungarian culture and shared his genius with the whole of humanity

[@301250]

I knew someone who played the harpsichord, and this guy told me that one composer that gives him a mental block is Haydn! (And for him, no Bach - and definitively, no Gould! - on the modern piano!) Then I loaned him my CD of Schiff’s Haydn piano sonatas (one of my desert island discs!). He became a convert thereafter.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

BRAVO !

[@harriemeeuwis978]

Such a great musician. Even his answers to stupid questions are interesting.

[@martinodetto7279]

Thanks Maestro!

[@elliotdavies3555]

38:53 Now that's a recording we all need!

[@michaeltheophilus5260]

I love the idea of Beethoven as part comic artist because there is no Genius in any persuit without a touch of humor and the heroic sometimes Beethoven eclipses that

[@izabellamardo1074]

Ótima entrevista amei , adoro Andras Schiffer

[@MAURICAFonenantsoa]

34:15 You cannot just wait for inspiration. You cannot just rely on talent. You need discipline and regularity: Schubert composed everyday.

[@FORTEPodcast]

I loved this insight from Master Schiff! Started applying this outlook to my own creativity!

[@Rabbi_David_Kantarovich]

איזה גאון!

[@jaikee9477]

Schiff is sooo right about playing Bach without pedal. I don't understand why he gets criticised by some of his colleagues. I am totally convinced that Bach would agree with him.

[@guiladshmaya1]

Last handshake before corona times

[@jdbrown371]

48:45. Bravo. Agreed. Mendelssohn is at the top, among the very greatest composers. Roberto Prosseda plays Mendelssohn quite well.

[@adrianoseresi3525]

Ahhh Mendelssohn indeed. Mendelssohn is truly underrated. A great shame.

[@moritz_cello]

28:30 „I am terribly worried about the social media“

[@michaeltheophilus5260]

I do disagree with one point( though most of what is said concerning music is close to my own ideas) that the medium for which we study great liturature- the internet-as the maestro mentioned- makes it piontless. When studying a great work like "of War and Peace" it is not whether you read it online, but the effort you place into it. That being said, I much prefer physical copies

[@NavesNiche]

What a treasure

[@23gregorius]

The existence of the Internet is great because I can listen here in Spain to this conversation free. I would pay also 1 € or several as Andras Schiff is the best teacher in Bach's music. I would like to learn more as I love das Quotlibet mit dem Backtrog im Bach und die Kaffeekantate. The understanding of music in the western world is missing. Ask an Indian and he would smile and answer: So sorry, our understanding of music you will never understand or if you will not accept it. To our understanding all music is coming from a specific world which was created by our Divine Mother or Mahashakti. Very few of us humans are chosen by our Mahashakti before birth or conception to enter this world and copy what they hear there. In this way these chosen personalities copy what they hear in this world. Is this statement not amazing ? Yes, our composers are copyists of a Divine matter, music, and give us something no word can ever express, Ecstasy! People in the west and the east sit for hours and listen to music and are not tired when the music endet. We feel greatful for the pianists or singers who let us enter in this world of happiness. Very seldom there is a minute of silence at the end as once happened after a Brahms Requiem conducted by Leonard Bernstein in Dresden. People needed this time to come out from the heavenly happiness. Having enlarged my spiritual conception by the works of Sri Aurobindo I feel greatful for all the music given by our Mahashakti and interpreted by the artist. And more is to come, more marvellous music from heaven in our future lives.

[@gauriblomeyer1835]

We know only now how Beethoven used the metronom. He never used it in the normal way but had a completely different way which nobody ever used. For this reason all the published Metronom figures have to made new, a good new income for the publishers.

[@janbonsema5888]

Alfred Brendl must now be rated as an also -ran. He's OK for a quarter of the Schiff recital ticket price

[@JaySuryavanshiMusic]

Which was the opening piece?

[@IsraelPhilharmonicOrchestra]

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2

[@JaySuryavanshiMusic]

Thank you! 💐

[@eyalkarni3290]

Pawn E4

[@thereyougoagain1280]

eyal karni I resign

[@edwardruane8993]

Why no mention of Handel?

[@palmerplantagenet]

It's Schiff's right to place Bach at the top of the 'heap' of composers, considering Bach's counterpuntal majesty, whether large-scale pageantry or simple and prayerful attitude. But must 'higher' feelings be devoid of the romance of living amongst real people? What if the VISUAL Arts could only be cosmic in scope - would we necesitate, for example, calibrating an exquisitely filigreed wild flower (perhaps alone and unseen) as low on the totem pole of existential beauty? I revere Back and also I look up to Josef Suk's Remembrance of Mother.

[@quaver1239]

Art Palmer : The word is contrapuntal. The other word is Bach.

[@quaver1239]

Art Palmer : And the 3rd word is necessitate. If you’re going to hold forth, at least know your language.

[@myklkay]

Bach is often the most revered composer for those who know music theory. But from a listener point of view, it's seldomly the case, because as brilliant his knowledge of musical theory was, the result, in term of pieces, is kind of indigestible (not all). Like most astrophysicists will be amaze by the beauty of an equation when most people will be amazed by what it represents, but will find the math kind of boring.

[@mariusvandewall2831]

Great discussion, just a shame it got distracted by the political insertions. I agree with Sir Schiff though, the arts need to dispose with all of the polarization and get back to an education rich in history and literature. The rediscovery of common origins and mythology and knowledge repeated historical travesties would surely help us close the gap between the right and left and have productive discussions again.

[@haggaimarkus8507]

אמן הבית במלוא הדרו

[@luckylicks3497]

18:04 Ghost

[@dcvao]

I’d give me left and right arm to hear him play Rachmaninoff!

[@gorkaplada3275]

I’m 99% sure Schiff hates Rachmaninov

[@chrish12345]

he almost pulled his arm off at the end

[@quaver1239]

I agree with Sir András about Mendelssohn. He was a great composer, every bit as gifted as Mozart, and a good man. Germans, no matter what they pretend, remain filled with hatred, and there is no laughter in that country.

[@daucuscarota6602]

András Schiff is a great musician and I like his insightful commnentaries very much but in this respect I would disagree. There is a certain community of "Wagnerians" (not limited to Germany, but also France etc.) who celebrate his music (but not his writings!) and vividly defend his musical style. However, I would not say that Wagner is more popular in Germany than Mendelssohn. These are two different musical tastes.

[@jamjam9253]

Sorry, thats totally nonsense. I live in Germany and I strongly suggest you to come here and judge by yourself instead of spreading prejudices. In Germany Mendelssohn is seen as one of the greatest German composers.

[@quaver1239]

jamjam 9 : Not nonsense at all! “Spreading prejudices”!!! Germany spreads its own prejudices. Spent a month in Mannheim last year, and all I heard was that Mendelssohn was “a worthless Jew pretending to be a Christian,” and a performer/composer “only for the salon.” The right wing in Germany will never change, and indeed its numbers are increasing.

[@dominichebler5515]

@@quaver1239 I am german, and I can tell you that Mendelssohn is one of my favorite composers. Of course you can find people who dislike him all over the world. Thats not a specific german thing anymore. I hope you are well. Best wishes.

[@jamjam9253]

@@quaver1239 Im a professional musician and I never heard anyone say something like that. Even far right voters barely would dare this, since this would be social suicide for him/her. That Story sounds very dubious to me and probably to everyone who knows about German society.

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

If you go on my channel you will hear Bach played both in Pedal soup and not in Pedal soup.

[@leo32190]

27:10

[@paolofrigeriomusic3691]

9.22 ok let's say for sure Beethoven was deaf. but i don't think because of his deafness he was also stupid.... if he wrote down a certain metronome speed ( i.e. the speed of the hammerklavier one ) we can assume for sure he want THAT speed and not another one. for me, as a very humble musician ( drummer ) but as a very big lover of Beethoven music and also of sir Andras Schift piano "voice" ( bach over all) , the Beethoven tempo indications are still today a great mistery wich need some serious and deep research. ( p.s. i'm a subscriber of authentic sound channel, but here i'm thinkin' with my own brain and not with Wim Winter's one.) beeing a drummer, i make really count of metronome marks !!! 🙂🙂 with no idea to fight, peace and love and Music to everyone PAolo from Italy

[@Maximilian2808]

14:10

[@kovvvas]

Not a word about Israel when discussing the far right nationalist wave...

[@thereyougoagain1280]

Probably because Israel isn’t experiencing a far right nationalist wave

[@kovvvas]

​@@thereyougoagain1280 Well, with Israel it's more of a far right nationalist "flood". A flood that never recedes so it has been internalized as normal.

[@labienus9968]

@@thereyougoagain1280 come on-one could make a case they've had a right wing government for years-and that doesn't mean it is bad

[@quaver1239]

@@thereyougoagain1280 : Israel needs a right-wing government if it is not to be annihilated by the people who surround it and constantly threaten its existence in deeds and words. Do you know anything at all about Jewish history? Do you actively wish for another Holocaust in addition to centuries of pogroms and expulsions of Jews?

[@gauriblomeyer1835]

Something which in history is to disappear often becomes aggressive before.

[@PaulJones-oj4kr]

I get the impression that he has not much use for, for.....................people who are not inhabiting his personal cosmos, always exhibiting mild disdain that he has to throw down a ladder to "earthlings."

[@JeffreyGreenCompRhet]

As Sir Andras himself might say, "I beg to differ." He is an essentially shy, modest, intensely gifted man who quietly articulates his thoughts. I don't hear "disdain," mild or otherwise. Quite the opposite. Perhaps we "earthlings," to use your word, need to more fully appreciate the creative and intellectual levels that the likes of Sir Andras inhabit by virtue of their remarkable gifts and aesthetic engagements. Let us not mistake living at that level for condescension.

[@geert574]

well he is a standard libtard they are all elevated latte sippers that dont know when they're wrong you just nod politely and ignore them 😆

[@quaver1239]

Paul Jones: I believe you have completely misjudged Sir András Schiff. He is a shy, gentle, modest man whose greatest love is music. In all the many years I have heard him make music, speak and teach, disdain has not ever been present. In addition, his sense of humour is a constant delight.

[@ilirllukaci5345]

Is it me, or does Sir Andras seem a tad underwhelmed by this interview? Sycophancy in the political realm is no less distasteful. Cheers.

[@roberts932]

He could be the greatest artist of them all if he only dropped this laughable idea of sonority.

[@MozartFong]

Musicians should stick with music, not politics.

[@labienus9968]

I don't agree with that, but what do you mean? I find him more confused about it, than not having to stick with music

[@edmoore]

Would you say that to Shostakovich?

[@labienus9968]

@@edmoore That's a convenient short hand, but that begs the question-or at least mine? I agree with his fundamental moral/political stand, yet on issues of the sanctity of western art, high tech, the changing world etc. he seems confused, and is not connecting the dots, seemingly wanting it both ways.

[@edmoore]

@@labienus9968 I may have hit the wrong button but for clarity I was replying to TurtleDove, specifically as an obvious counter-example to the idea that music should seperate itself from politics. As for your interesting point, I actually quite enjoy the almost deliberate and adolescent irreverence to western art. There’s an enjoyable middle-finger to all of it in the last movement of the 1st piano concerto that rather heralds the 20th century. But it would take someone like him to get away with it, where I couldn’t.

[@labienus9968]

@@edmoore OK-yes it is an interesting point, and I don't expect Schiff to solve it-he does what he does which is enough-but there is an irony, even a myopia with Schiff, especially Levit. In short hand, we have a situation where many of the values of political liberty, and personal self identity, come into conflict with assigning a hierarchy for art forms which then must be rejected because they originated with white European males, etc. The left is becoming more aggressive linking views on human rights etc.with a corresponding rejection of formal culture. Will we end with public confessions, Struggle Sessions-it's not out of the question. When I see operas being banned because of inherent racism, sexism, colonialism or of all composers, Beethoven being rejected for hierarchies of various musical sorts, or even the 9th being considered suspect, I see a world that Mr. Schiff would not be happy with, nor I. Of course, the rejection of "old art" is only a small part of what could be a wider rejection of the past. I can't take the same pleasure you do with-" almost deliberate and adolescent irreverence to western art" Can you have it both ways? It's hard to see that it's going to end well, if this kind of music and culture means something to you,us. It's too bad because it could be meaningful and useful to the greater world-but perhaps too late, too late. In my time zone as my second mug of coffee comes to an end, so will this.

[@robertoa.m.3984]

A truly wonderful human being! Great cultural and moral integrity. Proud to be Jewish!

[@robertoa.m.3984]

A truly wonderful human being! Great cultural and moral integrity. Proud to be Jewish!

[@robertoa.m.3984]

A truly wonderful human being! Great cultural and moral integrity. Proud to be Jewish!

[@robertoa.m.3984]

A truly wonderful human being! Great cultural and moral integrity. Proud to be Jewish!