Sir András Schiff Withdraws from BBC Proms Due to Injury

The GRAMMY Award-winning pianist has withdrawn from the Proms due to a broken leg

The 70-year-old conductor and pianist Sir András Schiff was due to perform Bach’s The Art of Fugue at the Royal Albert Hall on September 12, before suffering a broken leg. 

Schiff’s Bach performance is considered a regular annual highlight of London’s BBC Proms, The Standard reports. 

South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho will be stepping in for Schiff with a different program. Cho appeared at the Proms earlier this season with Mozart’s “Jeunehomme” Piano concerto.

In Schiff’s place, Cho will be performing three movements of Ravel’s Miroirs (No. 2 Oiseaux exotiques, No. 3 Un barque sur l’oceán, and No. 4 Alborada del gracioso) and Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année: Italie. The performance will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. 

“Sir András Schiff, the advertised pianist, has had to withdraw owing to a broken leg,” reads the Proms website. “The BBC Proms is grateful to Seong-Jin Cho for appearing at short notice.”

“We hope you will join us for this special Prom but if you wish to return your tickets, please contact the @RoyalAlbertHall Box Office,” the Proms added on X. 

Schiff has been nominated eight times at the GRAMMY Awards, and in 1990 won the classical soloist performance prize for his album, “Bach: English Suites.” His other accolades include Germany’s Great Cross of Merit with Star, the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal, and honorary doctorates from the University of Leeds and the Royal College of Music.

Our best wishes to Sir András Schiff for a speedy recovery!