András Schiff Returns to Hungary for May Concert After 15-Year Boycott

In May, Hungarian pianist András Schiff is set to perform in Budapest, marking the end of a 15-year concert boycott he initiated in 2011 in protest against Viktor Orbán's government. Schiff accepted an invitation from Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest, with the concert coinciding with the inauguration of the new government. Currently in China, Schiff expressed his joy following recent elections, hoping for an end to the "ugly things" perpetrated by the Orbán administration. After emigrating from Hungary in 1979 and becoming a British citizen in 2000, he received the Kossuth Prize but faced backlash for his stance. He reiterated that his vow was driven by conscience, stating he would make the same choice again, even while missing Hungary and its people. Schiff also continues to decline performances in the U.S. during Donald Trump’s presidency. He intends to arrive in Hungary ahead of the concert to reach a larger audience.