Eschenbach, Christoph (1940– )

German pianist and conductor. He studied in Cologne and Hamburg and made his London debut in 1966. He gave the first performance of Henze's second piano concerto (at Bielefeld, on 29 August 1968) and in 1969 made his US debut, with the Cleveland Orchestra. His debut as a conductor was in 1973, when he played Mozart's piano concertos while conducting from the keyboard. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, in 1984, with Così fan tutte. He was conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich, 1982–85, and musical director at the Houston Symphony Orchestra from 1980. He conducted Parsifal at Houston in 1992.