Chopin: Schwetzingen Festival, May 14 / 15, 1999

At the 1999 Schwetzingen Festival, held in honor of the 150th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's birth, Idil Biret delivered one of the most impressive performances of the festival. Known for her complete recordings of Chopin, Biret was asked just six hours before the start to replace Anatole Ugorski – and, contrary to all expectations, performed his demanding program from memory. Despite a storm, she flew from Brussels to Germany, arrived minutes before the concert began, and thrilled the audience with her brilliance and poise. Critics praised her as a rare artist of the highest mastery and courage, and Joachim Kaiser lauded her extraordinary musicality. That weekend, the Schwetzingen Festival experienced Biret in top form – an unforgettable tribute to Chopin and pianistic mastery. Idil Biret began her career as a soloist at the age of sixteen and has performed with major orchestras in the world's most important music centers, working with renowned conductors such as Erich Leinsdorf, Pierre Monteux, and Antoni Wit. She has been awarded numerous prizes, including the Lili Boulanger Memorial Award in Boston and the French Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.