# Christoph Eschenbach, piano

> Christoph Eschenbach, piano – 6 recordings on Ondine. Held in high esteem by the world's foremost orchestras and opera houses for his commanding presence…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/eschenbach-christoph

- **Role:** piano
- **Photo:** © Eric Brissaud/Ondine

## Biography

Held in high esteem by the world's foremost orchestras and opera houses for his commanding presence, versatility, and consummate musicianship, Christoph Eschenbach has also been acclaimed for his creative insight and dynamic energy, as a conductor, collaborator, and ardent champion of young musicians. In autumn 2010, he assumed the music directorship of the National Symphony Orchestra and the specially created position of music director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, both in Washington, D.C.

A prolific recording artist, Mr. Eschenbach has made numerous recordings on various labels as conductor, pianist, or both. His discography includes works of Bach, Bartók, Berg, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Mozart, Ravel, Schoenberg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. A champion of contemporary music, Mr. Eschenbach has also recorded works by such composers as Adams, Berio, Glass, Lourié, Picker, Pintscher, Rouse, Saariaho and Schnittke.

Before turning to conducting, Mr. Eschenbach had earned a distinguished reputation as a concert pianist. He began winning major competitions at the age of 11, and made his United States debut in 1969 with the Cleveland Orchestra. He learned the art of conducting under, among others, George Szell, who personally took him as his protégé, and with whom he worked for over three years. In addition, Herbert von Karajan was his mentor for nearly 25 years, and he credits him as having had a tremendous influence on his development as a conductor.

Mr. Eschenbach made his conducting debut in Hamburg in 1972. In 1981 he was named principal guest conductor of Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra, and was chief conductor from 1982 to 1986. Additional posts include music director of the Houston Symphony (1988-1999); chief conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony (1998-2004); music director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (1999-2002); music director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony (1994-2003); music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra (2003-2008); music director of the Orchestre de Paris (2000-2010); music director of the National Symphony Orchestra (2010-2017); and music director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin (2017-).

Among Mr. Eschenbach's most recent awards are the Légion d'Honneur of France and the Officer's Cross with Star and Ribbon of the German Order of Merit as well as the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2015. In 1993 he received the Leonard Bernstein Award, presented to him by the Pacific Music Festival, where he served as co-artistic director from 1992 to 1998.

## Discography on Ondine (6)

- [Robert Schumann: Introduction & Allegro appassionato · Geistervariationen for piano solo · Introduction & Concert-Allegro · Six Etudes in Canonic Form (arr. Debussy)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1162-2.md): Tzimon Barto, piano · NDR Sinfonieorchester · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor and piano (ODE 1162-2, 2010)
- [Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" · Dumka](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1131-5.md): The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor · Christoph Eschenbach, piano (ODE 1131-5, 2008)
- [Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 · Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1109-5.md): The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor · Yvonne Naef, mezzo-soprano · Members of The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, piano (ODE 1109-5, 2008)
- [Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 · The Seasons (July-December)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1104-5.md): The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor · Christoph Eschenbach, piano (ODE 1104-5, 2007)
- [Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 6 · Piano Quartet](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1084-5d.md): The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor · Christoph Eschenbach, piano · Members of The Philadelphia Orchestra (ODE 1084-5D, 2006)
- [Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 · The Seasons (January-June)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1076-5.md): The Philadelphia Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor · Christoph Eschenbach, piano (ODE 1076-5, 2006)

## Links

- [Christoph Eschenbach, conductor](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/eschenbach-christoph)
- [Official Website](http://www.christoph-eschenbach.com)
- [Opus 3 Artists](http://www.opus3artists.com/artists/christoph-eschenbach)