Heinrich Schiff

Heinrich Schiff (born 18th November 1951) is a noted Austrian cellist, much in demand as a soloist with the world's leading chamber ensembles and major orchestras. He is also an internationally renowned conductor.

He studied cello with Tobias Kühne and André Navarra and made his solo debut in Vienna and London in 1971. He studied conducting with Swarovsky,clarifyme and made his conducting debut in 1986.

He plays the "Mara" Stradivarius (1711) and "Sleeping Beauty" made by Montagnana in Venice in 1739. His recording of the Bach Cello Suites won prizes, and his recording of the Shostakovich concertos won the Grand Prix du Disque. His recording of the Brahms Double Concerto with Frank Peter Zimmermann and Wolfgang Sawallisch won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis.

In an interview of him, broadcast on CBC Radio, Schiff said that what he loved about pianist Glenn Gould was "his singing clear line, and rock-solid structure," traits which are well represented in Schiff's own playing.

In 2004, he was appointed Chief Conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and has been Artistic Director of the Northern Sinfonia (1990-1996) and Principal Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra and of the Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur.