An Interview With András Schiff
András Schiff, although rarely available for press interviews about his musical career, answered by e-mail the following questions from The Forward about growing anti-Semitism in Hungary:
THE FORWARD: Is there any cause for optimism in the near or immediate future about the situation in Hungary?
ANDRÁS SCHIFF: There is always hope, but not too soon. This government has been properly elected by a great majority. They are very popular and they will stay for a great number of years.
However, there is no reason why Mr. Orban shouldn’t distance himself from the extreme right. Also, the kind of racism, anti-Semitism and nationalism that is generally accepted in Hungary is outrageous. This doesn’t mean that it’s official, but nevertheless it’s more than tolerated by the government. It shouldn’t be.
Is there something uniquely Hungarian which makes a “symbolic death threat,” such as you recently received from a friend of Mr. Orban’s, different from an actual death threat?
To me it’s unique, because I haven’t received one anywhere else. Coming from a family of Holocaust survivors (and related to dozens who haven’t survived) — it is clear that I never want to go there again. Even if many people love me there. The latter ones are very quiet now.
What can readers of The Forward do to help the unfortunate Jews and other personae non grata who have to remain in Hungary while all this is happening?
It’s very important that the press and the media in other countries keep an eye on Hungary and keep reporting on various issues there. There will not be a free press there, so help can only come from outside.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!