These previously unreleased live recordings from Lucerne present Sir András Schiff with two composers rarely found in his discography or concert programmes: Domenico Scarlatti and György Kurtág. Though separated by centuries, both are masters of musical miniature. Although Schiff had already engaged with Scarlatti during his student years, the Baroque composer gradually disappeared from his repertoire. In Lucerne, he returned to Scarlatti with renewed insight, performing thirteen carefully selected sonatas in a dramaturgically shaped sequence. In  response to the live setting, Schiff plays with bold risk-taking, vivid characterisation, and an acute sensitivity to sound. From György Kurtág’s Játékok (“Games”) – a diary-like collection of piano miniatures – Schiff presents an equally curated selection, incorporating suggestions made by Kurtág himself. Schiff studied with Kurtág for several years in Budapest and holds him in the highest esteem, praising him as a composer “who has an important opinion on every note and knows exactly how he hears it.” Despite this admiration, Schiff had not recorded any of Kurtág’s music until now. With this release, he pays tribute to Kurtág on the occasion of his 100th birthday on 19 February 2026.

In cooperation with audite, Lucerne Festival presents the “Historic Performances” series featuring outstanding concert recordings of artists who have shaped the festival throughout its history. The aim of this CD edition is to rediscover treasures – most of which have not been released previously – from the first six decades of the festival, which was founded in 1938 with a special gala concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini. These recordings have been made available by the archives of SRF Swiss Radio and Television, which has broadcast the Lucerne concerts from the outset. Painstakingly re-mastered and supplemented with photos and materials from the Lucerne Festival archive, they represent a sonic history of the festival.

Live recordings: 16 September 1998 (Kurtág), 20 November 1999 (Scarlatti)