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.