Hélène Grimaud is not only an inspired pianist who fascinates audiences with her poetic expression, her unrivalled technique, and her energetic yet nuanced playing; Grimaud is also a dedicated conservationist, a passionate human rights activist, and a successful book author. The most wonderful thing about piano playing, she notes, is the rich variety of repertoire. Thus, despite her passion for rarely performed composers and for projects off the beaten path, Grimaud loves to return to masterworks of the Classical and Romantic eras, as she will indeed be doing on the occasion of her 18th performance at the Ruhr Piano Festival. Her recital focuses on Beethoven and Schumann. “This music requires nothing in addition: it is complete in itself. At each concert, each rehearsal, each time I practice it, I note that one can plunge into its depths to discover new levels of meaning. This material is so powerful, so transcendent, so spiritual, so inspired, that it requires no further effect in the way in which it is presented.”