«Music has always been a part of my life»

 

The Piano Week 2026 features many new faces. Only Maki Namekawa (Jazz Concert) and Schaghajegh Nosrati have performed multiple times in the Musikdorf. In addition, the new Artistic Director, Jonathan Inniger, presents four highly interesting young debut artists: the Hungarian Mihály Berecz, who lives in Berlin, the Japanese Shio Okui, who lives in Geneva, the Dutch Gile Bae, as well as Sir András Schiff’s student Tähe-Lee Liiv. We met the latter for an interview.

Tähe-Lee, do you recall your first musical experience?

I grew up in Estonia, on a small peninsula called Viimsi, which is connected to Tallinn. My home is only five minutes away from the sea and the forest, so nature has always been a constant, calming presence in my life. However, due to my music studies, I have moved house frequently. Travel and change have been familiar to me since childhood. Both my mother and my grandmother are pianists. I remember waking up in the morning to my mother practising Stravinsky or Arvo Pärt. Music has always been a part of my life.

When did you know you wanted to become a pianist?

When I was about twelve and started travelling abroad for masterclasses, it became clear to me that I wanted to dedicate myself entirely to the piano. I saw others my age playing incredibly complex pieces. That motivated me. When I returned to Estonia, I told my teacher I wanted to play Chopin’s Third Ballade. She thought I wasn't ready for it yet, but I proved her wrong. A few years later, I performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto, and from then on, everything started to develop.

You have been considered a Pärt specialist since recording a CD of his works at age 19. Arvo Pärt's music stands for simplicity, spirituality, and inner peace. Are these typical Estonian character traits?

That describes Estonians quite well. The inner peace that Pärt creates through his music is something we all long for. My grandmother studied at the Tallinn Conservatory around the same time as Arvo Pärt and his wife Nora, and my mother taught his grandchildren for ten years. I had the opportunity to play for him and hear his comments. The care he dedicates to every single note in his later compositions and the clear, almost mathematical precision of his earlier works have strongly influenced me.

In Ernen, you will also be playing Etudes by Einojuhani Rautavaara, and works by Mel Bonis, Mozart, Debussy, and Grieg.

I love exploring lesser-known repertoire, such as Rautavaara’s Etudes or Grieg’s Ballade. The Nordic sound world, with its thoughtful detachment and quiet strength, is very close to my heart. For my concert in Ernen, I combined Debussy with Mel Bonis—a wonderful discovery for me! Knowing she was Debussy’s classmate, this combination seemed very natural. And playing Mozart is always a joy for me.

What do you gain from the masterclass with Sir András Schiff?

Studying with him is a privilege. His tone, his touch, his insights are exceptional. He speaks about music with great wisdom and imagination, often using analogies that completely change the understanding of a phrase. He always expects us to be well-prepared so that we can fully concentrate on interpretation and musical thought. His guidance is demanding and profoundly inspiring. The group work in the masterclasses—four hours a day, listening to and learning from each other—is a special experience. Pianists usually work alone, so witnessing the process and progress of others is incredibly enriching.

Are you familiar with Switzerland and the Musikdorf Ernen? 

I have never been to Ernen, but I was able to spend several summers in Gstaad, where I participated in Sir Schiff's masterclasses. He speaks of Ernen with such affection! It must be a very special place.

Public Masterclass Sir András Schiff

Following the ideal masterclass experience last year, Sir András Schiff suggested holding another masterclass in Ernen in 2026. Be there up close as he coaches his students in musical subtleties. Listen to his comments and analyses, and prick up your ears to hear how the pianists implement his suggestions at the keyboard. The masterclass is public (anticipated course times 11:00 am–1:00 pm / 2:30 pm–5:30 pm; admission is free, but entering and leaving is only possible during breaks). Sir András Schiff will then return to the Musikdorf for concerts at the end of August. 

Piano | 11–17 July 2026 | Personality on the keyboard
5 recitals and a jazz concert

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Written in December 2025, by Marianne Mühlemann