András Schiff performs Bach and Mozart recital at Salzburg Festival

Pianist András Schiff performed a recital at the Mozarteum during the Salzburg Festival, featuring a program dedicated to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Following his practice established since the pandemic, Schiff did not announce the specific program in advance, choosing instead to compose it upon arrival after testing the acoustics and his custom Bösendorfer piano. The performance lasted nearly three hours and included Bach’s Ricercare from ‘The Musical Offering’ and Mozart’s Fantasy in C Minor, KV 574.

Throughout the evening, Schiff provided commentary in both English and German, using dry humor to explain his musical choices and the connections between the two composers. The recital concluded with Mozart works and a Chopin waltz as an encore.