23-05-2025
OAE/Andras Schiff — a glorious night of Schumann and Mendelssohn
★★★★★Judging by his platform demeanour, Andras Schiff must be the politest, most civilised pianist on the planet. On he walks, hands clutched as if in prayer, the same hands soon to be seen wafting elegantly over the keyboard; or if he's also directing an orchestra (as he was here), alerting players with crisp finger wriggles, or twists of the wrist so refined that they make the royal waves of the Queen Mother seem positively uncouth.
To make matters even more civilised, this Royal Festival Hall concert surrounded Schiff only with people and objects he loves and respects. One was the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, partners over many years, so skilled in shared musical conversations. Then there was music played: Schumann and Mendelssohn,
