Christoph Eschenbach Essentials: The Pianist

For decades, Christoph Eschenbach has been a dominant force in classical music as a conductor, with stints leading the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, among many other world-class appointments. Yet, as with his mentor George Szell, Eschenbach first made his mark as a versatile pianist, hitting his stride in the '60s when he was duly celebrated for his fervour on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with Herbert von Karajan leading the Berlin Philharmonic. A decade later, his focus shifted to conducting, but he’s preserved his piano practice, especially for his beloved Schubert.