Excellent pianist and prominent conductor. Born in Wrocław in 1940, he started studying music in Hamburg. In 1951 he received the first prize for young pianists at the Steinway Competition. He began his piano studies in Cologne; he then studied conducting in Hamburg under W. Brückner-Rüggeberg and piano under E. Hansen. In 1965 he won Klara Haskil Competition in Lucerne and started his international piano career. Since then he has given many solo recitals, played in duet with Justus Frantz, appeared in chamber ensembles, and accompanied D. Fischer-Diskau. In 1972 he made his debut as conductor, leading A. Bruckner’s Symphony no 3. Then he conducted newer and newer repertoire, including operas, and assumed numerous responsible posts. In 1981 he became first visiting conductor in Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich, and then in London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1988 he took over the prestigious position of Artistic Director in Houston Symphony Orchestra. His performance with this orchestra was awarded Diapazon d`Or in 1998. Among his many recordings are works by Mozart, Dvořák, Brahms, Mahler, Bruckner, K. Weill, E. Carter and Schnittke, recorded for such phonographic companies as Koch, Virgin Classics, EMI and Pickwick International, Teldec, Decca, and BMG Classics.
In 1999 Eschenbach became General Director of Norddeutscher Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Hamburg and Artistic Director of the Music Festival in Schleswig-Holstein. Despite his many performances, he still finds time in summer to teach master classes for young instrumentalists and singers in Ravinia. In 1990 and 1993 Christoph Eschenbach was awarded German medals, Commander’s and Officer’s Cross of Merit, for his achievement in piano and conducting.