October 21, 2006

András Schiff Plays Mozart at Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center of Washington hosted a marvelous concert performed by András Schiff and his "Capella Andrea Barca" orchestra October 21st. Mozart’s piano concertos No. 271 and 595 as well as his Symphony No. 40 were played.

András Schiff was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953 and started piano lessons at the age of five with Elisabeth Vadász. Subsequently he continued his musical studies at the Ferenc Liszt Academy with Professor Pál Kadosa, György Kurtág, Ferenc Rados, and in London with George Malcolm.

One of the leading pianists in the world, András Schiff

András Schiff has worked with most of the major international orchestras and conductors, but nowadays he performs mainly as a conductor and soloist. In 1999 he created his own chamber orchestra, the Cappella Andrea Barca, which consists of international soloists, chamber musicians and friends. In addition to working annually with this Orchestra, he also works every year with the Washington Performing Arts Society. 

András Schiff, WPAS President Neale Perl, his son and Ambassador Simonyi at the reception following the concert

Following the concert, Ambassador András Simonyi hosted a reception at his residence that was attended by the artists, Mr. Neale Perl, president of WPAS and his closest associates, as well as high ranking diplomats and outstanding personalities of various arts.

Musicians of Capella Andrea Barca offered a little night music at the reception

At the end of the event the chamber orchestra offered a mini-concerto to the great satisfaction of the audience.