Heinrich Schiff(German:[haɪ̯nʁɪçˈʃɪf];18 November 1951 – 23 December 2016) was an Austriancellistandconductor.
Early life
editHeinrich Schiff was born on 18 November 1951 inGmunden,Austria.[1]His parents, Helga (née Riemann) andHelmut Schiff,were composers.[1]He studied cello with Tobias Kühne andAndré Navarraand made his solo debut inViennaandLondonin 1971. He studied conducting withHans Swarowsky.
Career
editSchiff made his conducting debut in 1986.[1]He was artistic director of theNorthern Sinfoniafrom 1990 to 1996,[1]and recorded with them for theCollins Classicslabel.[2]He also held chief conductorships with theCopenhagen Philharmonic OrchestrainCopenhagen,Denmark (1996–2000), and theOrchester Musikkollegium Winterthur(1996–2001[3]).
In 2004, he was appointed Chief Conductor of theVienna Chamber Orchestraand served in the post from 2005 to 2008.[1]He stood down from the post in 2008 for health reasons.[4]
Schiff played the "Mara"Stradivarius(1711) and "Sleeping Beauty" made byMontagnanainVenicein 1739.[5]His recording of theBachCello Suiteswon prizes, and his recording of theShostakovichconcertos won theGrand Prix du Disquein 1985.[1]His recording of theBrahmsDouble ConcertowithFrank Peter ZimmermannandWolfgang Sawallischwon theDeutscher Schallplattenpreis.Composers who have written cello concertos for Schiff includeJohn Casken,[2][5]Friedrich Gulda[6]andOtto Zykan.[7]
Among his students wereRudi Spring,Gautier Capuçon,Richard HarwoodandNatalie Clein.
Other
editSchiff frequently experienced pain in his right shoulder and arm, the one that holds thebow,presumably caused by overexertion, but tried to ignore it. While playing in a chamber concert in Vienna on 25 April 2010 he had to take breaks during pieces due to the pain. After this evening, he never played cello in public again.[8]
Since 2012, the 'Mara' Cello has been played by Christian Poltéra, one of Schiff's former students.[9][10]
Death
editSchiff died in Vienna on 23 December 2016 at the age of 65.[1][11]
References
edit- ^abcdefgMillington, Barry (December 30, 2016)."Heinrich Schiff obituary".The Guardian.RetrievedJanuary 1,2017.
- ^abAndrew Clements (2003-07-04)."Casken: Darting the Skiff; Maharal Dreaming, etc: Schiff/ Northern Sinfonia/ Casken".The Guardian.Retrieved2009-02-07.
- ^""Sechs Jahre, die wir nicht missen möchten" | NZZ ".Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
- ^"Stefan Vladar neuer Chefdirigent des Wiener Kammerorchesters".Vienna Online.2008-05-16.Retrieved2009-02-07.
- ^abGriffiths, Bill,Northern Sinfonia.Northumbria University Press, p. 21 (ISBN1904794076).
- ^Andrew Clements (1999-08-10)."Colour and spice: Gulda's Cello Concerto (Royal Albert Hall / Radio 3)".The Guardian.Retrieved2009-02-07.
- ^Kairos Records KAI0015046 (2019)
- ^Amling, Ulrich (23 December 2016)."Zum Tod des Cellisten Heinrich Schiff".Der Tagesspiegel.Retrieved2 January2019.
- ^"Christian Poltéra".christianpoltera.
- ^zeit.de7 May 2015 / Carolin Pirich:Oh, Mara!
- ^Jahn, Johann (23 December 2016)."ZUM TOD DES CELLISTEN UND DIRIGENTEN".br-klassik.de.
Further reading
edit- Rhein, John von (23 November 1990)."Austrian cellist makes the most of Bach suites".Chicago Tribune.Chicago. p. 22.Retrieved26 May2020– viaNewspapers.
External links
edit- Intermusica agency biography of Heinrich Schiff
- Interview with Heinrich Schiff,July 3, 1989
- Heinrich Schiffdiscography atDiscogs
