Encores after Beethoven

András Schiff

Encores after Beethoven
Release date: 25.11.2016 ECM 1950
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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 April 09 Philharmonie Berlin, Germany
2023 April 11 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 14 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United Kingdom
2023 April 15 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 16 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 18 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 20 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 21 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 22 Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall New York NY, United States
2023 April 23 92NY New York NY, United States
2023 June 27 Klavier-Festival-Ruhr Bochum, Germany
2023 June 29 Schloß Elmau Krün, Germany
2023 August 15 Salzburger Festspiele Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg, Austria
2023 August 17 Salzburger Festspiele Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg, Austria

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