Encores after Beethoven

András Schiff

EN / DE
Between March 2004 and May 2006 András Schiff performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas at the Tonhalle, Zürich, recorded and released by ECM New Series. This collection presents the encores from these concerts. What does one play after Beethoven sonatas? András Schiff: “For me it’s essential not to seek entertainment but rather to look for pieces that are closely related to the previously heard sonatas.” The pianist explores links to Schubert, Mozart, Haydn and Bach. For all the interconnecting strands of musical history, András Schiff’s selection of encores also adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable ‘recital’ disc in its own right.
Zwischen März 2004 und Mai 2006 spielte András Schiff den kompletten Zyklus von Beethovens Klaviersonaten in der Tonhalle in Zürich. ECM New Series nahm alle Konzerte auf und veröffentlichte sie. Die vorliegende Kollektion präsentiert nun die Zugaben aus diesen Konzerten. Was spielt man nach Beethoven-Sonaten? András Schiff: „Für mich war es essenziell, nicht auf Unterhaltung auszugehen, sondern nach Stücken zu suchen, die zu den zuvor gehörten Sonaten in enger Beziehung stehen.“ Der Pianist erforscht hier Verbindungen zu Schubert, Mozart, Haydn und Bach. Bei all diesen sich verknüpfenden Strängen der Musikgeschichte summiert sich András Schiffs Auswahl an Zugaben aber auch zu einem sehr unterhaltsamen eigenständigen Rezitalalbum.
Featured Artists Recorded

2004-2006, Tonhalle Zürich

  • Three Piano Pieces D 946
    (Franz Schubert)
  • 1No. 1 e-flat minor. Allegro assai07:26
  • 2Allegretto c minor D 915
    (Franz Schubert)
    04:59
  • 3Eine kleine Gigue in G Major KV 574
    (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
    01:42
  • Sonata g minor Hob XVI :44
    (Joseph Haydn)
  • 4Moderato09:33
  • 5Allegretto04:04
  • 6Hungarian Melody in b minor D 817
    (Franz Schubert)
    03:59
  • 7Andante favori F major WoO 57. Andante grazioso con moto
    (Ludwig van Beethoven)
    08:41
  • Partita No. 1 B-flat Major BWV 825
    (Johann Sebastian Bach)
  • 8Menuet I & II02:32
  • 9Gigue02:33
  • Prelude and Fugue b-flat minor BWV 867
    (Johann Sebastian Bach)
  • 10Prelude02:30
  • 11Fugue03:27
Between March 2004 and May 2006, András Schiff played Ludwig van Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas in concerts at Zürich’s Tonhalle.  Live recordings of the sonata cycle were subsequently issued by ECM New Series, to widespread critical acclaim. Now for the first time, the encores played by Schiff in Zürich are also made available.
 
“The public is never passive but a vital active participant in the proceedings, “writes András Schiff in his liner notes to Encores after Beethoven. “Unlike studio recordings, live performances are unique and unrepeatable, they depend on the lively discourse between musicians and their listeners. To me there is always a strong desire to share all this wonderful music with others; this requires a community that listens keenly and reacts sensitively.  Encores are also the results of this process. Having finished the main programme, it’s now time for something more spontaneous and improvisatory – a few small gifts.”  
 
What does one play after Beethoven sonatas? András Schiff: “For me it's essential not to seek entertainment but rather to look for pieces that are closely related to the previously heard sonatas. Thus Schubert's Klavierstück in E-flat minor is a close relative of the trio of the third movement of Beethoven’s sonata opus 7. Or Schubert's C-minor Allegretto which is a ‘sister’ of the second movement of Beethoven’s sonata opus 10 no.2 (dark shadows moving in unison).
 
“With Mozart's ‘Eine kleine Gigue’ I wanted to point out its kinship to the finale of that sonata (op.10/2), — they are both humorous fugal studies in sonata form. ‘Andante Favori’ was originally intended as the second movement of the Waldstein sonata, so to play it after op.53 is not such a bad idea. Beethoven had studied the works of Bach all his life and had struggled with the art of writing fugues. The last movement of the Hammerklavier sonata is a towering example of this never-ending battle. . ‘Con alcune licenze’ — with certain liberties — he says. How an exemplary fugue ‘senza alcune licenze’ must sound can best be observed and admired in J.S. Bach's works, hence my choice of his Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from Book 1 of the Well-Tempered Clavier…”      
For all the interconnecting strands of musical history, András Schiff’s selection of encores also adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable ‘recital’ disc in its own right.  Encores after Beethoven is therefore issued both as a single CD and as part of the new box set incorporating Schiff’s complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle.
YEAR DATE VENUE LOCATION
2023 October 01 MUZA Hall Kawasaki, Japan
2023 October 03 Arts Center Seoul, South Korea
2023 October 05 Arts Center Gyeong-gi, South Korea
2023 October 11 Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum Prague, Czechia
2023 October 12 Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum Prague, Czechia
2023 October 13 Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum Prague, Czechia
2023 October 20 Kursaal Engelberg, Switzerland
2023 October 21 Kursaal Engelberg, Switzerland
2023 October 23 Wigmore Hall London, United Kingdom
2023 October 25 Wigmore Hall London, United Kingdom
2023 October 29 Gewandhaus Leipzig, Germany
2023 October 30 Alte Oper Frankfurt, Germany
2023 November 03 Montcalm Palace Quebec QC, Canada
2023 November 05 Koerner Hall Toronto ON, Canada
2023 November 08 WPAS Washington DC, United States
2023 November 10 NEC's Jordan Hall Boston MA, United States
2023 November 12 Symphonie Center Chicago IL, United States
2023 November 14 Kauffmann Center Kansas City MI, United States
2023 November 16 Carnegie Hall New York NY, United States
2023 November 23 tba Bordeaux, France
2023 November 28 tba Basel, Switzerland
2023 December 04 Tonhalle Zurich, Switzerland
2023 December 06 tba Lugano, Switzerland
2023 December 08 tba Genf, Switzerland
2023 December 10 Casino Bern, Switzerland
2023 December 13 Salzburger Marionettentheater Salzburg, Austria
2023 December 15 tba Ludwigshafen, Germany
2023 December 17 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2023 December 21 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2023 December 23 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2023 December 26 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2023 December 28 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2023 December 30 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2024 January 02 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2024 January 06 Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, Germany
2024 January 10 Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Germany
2024 February 01 deSingel Antwerp, Belgium
2024 February 17 Kulturpalast Dresden, Germany
2024 February 20 Isarphilharmonie Munich, Germany
2024 February 21 Liederhalle Stuttgart, Germany
2024 February 23 deSingel Antwerp, Belgium
2024 February 25 Konzerthaus Dortmund, Germany
2024 March 17 Isarphilharmonie Munich, Germany