Heinrich Schiff

After building a career as one of the finest cellists to emerge in the last quarter of the 20th century, Heinrich Schiff established himself as an important orchestra conductor. He began playing piano when he was six, and took up cello at the age of ten. His major teacher was André Navarra, with whom he shared the qualities of a lean, centered, yet singing tone and a lyrical approach to the instrument. Schiff made his debut in Vienna in 1971 at the age of 20 and played with the major orchestras of Europe under such great conductors as Bernard Haitink, Sergiu Celibidache, Coli...