Eccentric humor and profound seriousness, dreamy inwardness and an excitable disposition– these are just some of the seemingly paradoxical qualities for which Hungarian pianist András Schiff and his performances are known. Experiencing a single evening of piano music with him is likely to make you want to return: Schiff’s playing is gratifying to hear– and to see him in action, an added pleasure.

When András Schiff appears to perform, it’s not just before the audience that he takes a bow. Indeed, before he sits down, he pauses in front of the piano for a moment and bows to the instrument, his indispensable companion and ally in the hours ahead. This gesture is typical of his professional attitude and self-understanding. For András Schiff well knows that the greatest virtuoso, the cleverest performer, and even the most vainglorious musical “showman” are but servants of their art: They are merely the medium that is able to awaken the masterpieces of the past and present to new life.

And each day, each performance, is different and unique. “I cannot play today as I did yesterday or as I will tomorrow,” explains Schiff, who relies entirely on the magic of the moment. Kowtowing to popular taste or today’s trends is alien to him, since his highest priority remains quality. It’s exactly by this principle that he is convinced he can win over his audience:  “Great art is surely not elitist. All doors are open, but you have to do something to get there. To read a novel like ‘The Magic Mountain’ requires effort, but it’s worth doing. And it’s the same way with music. You need to fight uncompromisingly for quality. People then become grateful, because they aren’t taken to be stupid.”

What will undoubtedly be worth doing is to attend the recital András Schiff has planned for 24 November, when he will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. These two composers shared a closer friendship and mutual esteem. Schumann helped publicize Mendelssohn’s reputation through the pioneering reviews he wrote for his periodical, “Die Neue Zeitschrift für Musik,” while Mendelssohn for his part introduced many of Schumann’s orchestral works as conductor. And yet their creativity produced such remarkably different results, as András Schiff will demonstrate. Let yourself in for a surprise!