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Article: Classical Music: Andrs Schiff Plays Brahms Queen's Hall, EdinburghA return festival visit from the pianist and friends. By Raymond Monelle
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- August 31, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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For the second year running, the pianist Andrs Schiff gathered
a group of friends and colleagues to give recitals of chamber music
at the Queen's Hall. Since the only qualification to take part is
to be asked by Schiff, the performances are mixed, always competent
but variable in their communicative powers. This year, Brahms was
the featured composer.
Schiff himself is, perhaps, a musician who plays too much too
often. His particular strength is a kind of stamp-and-go rhythm,
full of the swing and lift of the dance. In passages of inward
emotion, sweet lyricism or grim seriousness he is less convincing;
you sense that he is bored with the sheer mass of music he is
called on to perform.
You ...