Haydn and Beethoven at 2018 Verbier

[Rach3]

Free video, Sir Andras Schiff ( mit Boesendorfer ) , Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Beethoven PC # 4, July 30,2018:

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/takacs-nagy-haydn/

Not technically pristine, but in this rarefied level of expression no matter. Not to be missed,IMHO.

Encore : Schubert, Hungarian Melody in B minor, D.817. Takacs-Nagy came out and sat with the woodwinds to hear the encore.

Also on the programme, Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ “ ( I did not hear ) :

Christian Thompson | Reader
Urs Bachmann | Reader (Piano tuner)
Tecla Gucci | Reader (Staff, Verbier Festival Academy)
Charles Sigel | Reader (Journalist)
Rodion Shchedrin | Reader (Composer)
Jan Lisiecki | Reader (Pianist)
Gábor Takács-Nagy | Reader (Conductor)

[Belle]

I'm listening to/watching right now a replay of the Beethoven Piano Concerto #4 with Schiff and it's being spoiled by endless, quite loud humming coming from the conductor. It's driving me mad.

And how amusing to see the orchestra leader sitting on two chairs, one on top of the other.

[Rach3]

I'm listening to/watching right now a replay of the Beethoven Piano Concerto #4 with Schiff and it's being spoiled by endless, quite loud humming coming from the conductor. It's driving me mad.

My hearing is not what it once was, perhaps thankfully, as I did not notice humming.

[jbuck919]

"Sir" Andras Schiff? He's Hungarian. How did he merit a title that is only given out in the UK to UK citizens, or possibly other members of the British Commonwealth (cf Sir Edmund Hillary).

[Rach3]

"Sir" Andras Schiff? He's Hungarian. How did he merit a title that is only given out in the UK to UK citizens, or possibly other members of the British Commonwealth (cf Sir Edmund Hillary).

Schiff has been a British citizen since 2001. Last I knew, he refuses to visit or play in Hungary because of its right-wing government.

https://artofthetimes.com/2014/06/19/an ... -knighted/

[Rach3]

Schiff has been a British citizen since 2001. Last I knew, he refuses to visit or play in Hungary because of its right-wing government.
https://artofthetimes.com/2014/06/19/an ... -knighted/

Schiff's concerns about Hungary:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25450716

[jbuck919]

Schiff has been a British citizen since 2001. Last I knew, he refuses to visit or play in Hungary because of its right-wing government.
https://artofthetimes.com/2014/06/19/an ... -knighted/

Schiff's concerns about Hungary:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25450716

Thanks for the info. Live and learn, and BTW I admire him greatly as a pianist and now for other reasons as well.

[Rach3]

Thanks for the info. Live and learn, and BTW I admire him greatly as a pianist and now for other reasons as well.

Trump of course adores the current Hungarian government. IF Schiff ever comes to the USA again, get your tickets early as may be the last chance !! Schiff can sell out any hall in London or in Europe anytime he wishes , he does not need Carnegie.

https://tinyurl.com/y9qpf9al

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/20 ... orban.html

[Belle]

"Sir" Andras Schiff? He's Hungarian. How did he merit a title that is only given out in the UK to UK citizens, or possibly other members of the British Commonwealth (cf Sir Edmund Hillary).

I gather he lives there with an English partner and has citizenship, the same as Alfred Brendel and Stephen Kovacevich.

I've got 30 minutes before I leave for my Beethoven lecture, and am watching Kissin from Verbier from 31st July and he's grunting and groaning too. And I'm buying a new speaker system to watch these concerts, plugged into the computer with ethernet cable to the modem; they'd better stop with the vocalising!! No, seriously, it's very annoying and he's doing it as I write this. Bad enough the Kissin gyrations and facial tics.

Love the Schumann though; a favourite composer.

[Rach3]

Love the Schumann though; a favourite composer.

Got to hear Horowitz play that Schumann live in 1975 or 1976 , and have his recording from that period. Been a long time since then, my audio memory not great , but I felt Kissin made better sense of the work. Schumann is a fav composer of mine , too, but the 3rd Sonata is one of my least liked works of his.

[Belle]

Love the Schumann though; a favourite composer.

Got to hear Horowitz play that Schumann live in 1975 or 1976 , and have his recording from that period. Been a long time since then, my audio memory not great , but I felt Kissin made better sense of the work. Schumann is a fav composer of mine , too, but the 3rd Sonata is one of my least liked works of his.

I have a recording of it, but have rarely played it. However, Kissin's performance of it certainly aroused my interest once again. The piece has wonderful passages though, at times, I feel it's a bit of a melange. Will persist as it's music all day today for me after the research of the last weeks.