Sunday, May 19, 2013, from 2:15 to 5:00pm
FREDERIC CHOPIN –
CONNECTIONS with MOZART and BACH
Chopin was deeply drawn to the music of Mozart and Bach, returning to it throughout his life. Connections are uncovered between musical styles, their common ground, and how they profoundly enrich each other.
____________________________________
During the early 19th century, poet Heinrich Heine said of his friend, Frederic Chopin: “Poland gave him the soul of a knight and the memory of her suffering; France gave him charm; and Germany, Romanticism. Yet, he is not a Pole, Frenchman nor a German – his provenance is higher, the homeland of the Mozarts, of dreams and marvels. Chopin is a genius musical poet.”
When asked how he prepared for performing in a concert, Chopin explained that he did not practice his own works; he would only play from Bach’s forty-eight Preludes and Fugues, as a perfect combination of art and craft. Bach persevered for a cantabile or singing style in playing his music, and was said to “sound like speech” when he played. Chopin turned those ideals into a living, breathing bel canto (an ideal in singing tone ) style on the piano, encompassing the naturally expressive voice beloved in the Italian opera of his time.
Frederic Chopin was deeply drawn to the music of Mozart and Bach, returning to it throughout his life. We’ll uncover connections between musical styles, displaying common ground, and how they profoundly enriched Chopin’s music, and thus the lives of all future music-lovers. Selections of Chopin Preludes, Nocturnes, Mazurkas, a Ballade and Scherzo are performed live and in-depth.
With pianist, Rollin Wilber
—————–
SESSIONS ARE HELD MID-MONTHLY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS
FROM 2:15PM TO 5:00PM – Doors open at 1:45
Ivy Hall – International Institute for Culture
6331 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19151
Email: RHaas@iiCulture.org — www.iiCulture.org — 215-877-9910
COST: $30/general – $20/seniors – $15/students
** Admissions may be paid at the door **