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

Life and work


The early years
Born in Lipnik (Kunzendorf) near Bielitz Galicia Austro-Hungarian Empire (today a part of Bielsko-Biała Poland) Schnabel was the youngest of three children born to Isidor Schnabel a textile merchant and his wife Ernestine (née Labin). "I am the only person here who is enjoying this and I get the money; they pay and have to suffer" he wrote. Schnabel himself mentioned that he had played the Liszt Sonata in B minor "very often" as well as the Liszt E-flat Piano Concerto.

Artur Schnabel (April 17 1882 – August 15 1951) was an Austrian classical pianist who also composed and taught. His performances of these compositions have often been hailed as models of interpretative penetration and his best-known recordings are those of the Beethoven piano sonatas.