Artur Schnabel Quotes

Artur Schnabel — Polish Musician born on April 17, 1882, died on August 15, 1951

Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura. Among the 20th century's most respected and most important pianists, his playing displayed marked vitality, profundity and spirituality in the Austro-German classics, particularly the works of Beethoven and Schubert. His performances of these compositions have often been hailed as models of interpretative penetration. His best-known recording is of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas; recorded between 1932 and 1935, it is the first recording ever made of the complete cycle of 32 sonatas, leading Harold C. Schonberg to refer to Schnabel as "the man who invented Beethoven"... (wikipedia)

The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes ah, that is where the art resides.

I know two kinds of audiences only - one coughing, and one not coughing.

I am the only person here who is enjoying this, and I get the money; they pay and have to suffer.

I don't think I handle the notes much differently from other pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, there is where the artistry lies!!

When a piece gets difficult, make faces.