Double Grammy Award-winning pianist András Schiff makes his NAC recital debut on October 7
September 26, 2003 -
Ottawa (Canada) -- Celebrated Hungarian pianist András Schiff, winner of two Grammy Awards, makes his National Arts Centre recital debut in the opening concert of the NAC's Great Performers series on Tuesday, October 7 at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall. Especially renowned for his interpretations of Bach, his programme will include Bach's French Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, Partita No. 2 in C minor, and English Suite No. 6 in D minor. (One of Schiff's Grammy Awards was for his recording of the Bach English Suites.) The programme also includes Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major. Schiff, winner of the Bartók Prize in 1991, will close his recital with the Out of Doors Suite, five evocative character pieces by his compatriot Bartók.
András Schiff was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953. He began piano lessons at the age of five and continued his musical studies at the Ferenc Liszt Academy. Recitals and special projects take him to all the international music capitals and include cycles of the major keyboard works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Bartók. In 2004, he embarks on a journey of performances that will explore the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in chronological order. His multi-faceted career embraces conducting as well as performing as soloist. This season he performs this dual role with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in its North American tour with appearances at both New York's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He will perform his acclaimed interpretations of Bach's Goldberg Variations at Los Angeles's newly opened Walt Disney Hall, in San Francisco and Santa Barbara, and in a live recording released on the ECM label in the fall of 2003. His recital debut at the National Arts Centre marks his first performance here since he performed with the NAC Orchestra in 1990. He performs the same recital at Carnegie Hall the following week.
Mr. Schiff has established a prolific discography, including recordings for ECM New Series, Teldec and London/Decca. He has received several international recording awards, in addition to the two Grammy Awards. Other honours include the Claudio Arrau Memorial medal from the Robert Schumann Society in Düsseldorf in 1994; the Kossuth Prize, Hungary's highest distinction, in March 1996; and the Leonie Sonnings Music Prize in Copenhagen in May 1997. In May of 2003 he was awarded the Palladio d'Oro by the city of Vicenza. Mr. Schiff resides in Florence, Italy, and London and is married to the violinist Yuuko Shiokawa.
Tickets for this Great Performers recital featuring Andras Schiff on October 7 are on sale now at $25.00, $39.00, 41.00, $49.00 and 51.00, with box seats at $60.50 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card.
Subscriptions for the season are also still available by calling the Subscription Office at 613-947-7000, ext. 620.
