András Schiff returns to Budapest for Academy honors and donation

Pianist András Schiff has returned to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, where he was honored with an honorary doctorate. Schiff expressed deep emotional connection to the institution, describing it as his alma mater and stating he would not trade his years spent there for anything.

Schiff announced that he will donate the honorarium from his upcoming concerts on September 3 and 4 to support the establishment of the Rácz Aladár Roma College at the Academy.

During his visit, Schiff addressed the intersection of art and politics, rejecting the notion that artists should remain silent on societal issues. He also reflected on his sixteen-year absence from Hungary, noting that he felt there was no place for him in the country during the political climate following 2010.