2020 In Review
As we get ready to bid 2020 farewell, we have devoted this week’s Chopin Salon @ Home to a quick review and recap of a year that was remarkable - in so very many ways! On this page we offer links to the “best of” our virtual offerings this year:
February 2020: 10th National Chopin Piano Competition
Individual Performances from the Competition Live Stream
Little did we know back in February, when we were live streaming the Competition, that this would be the last time in 2020 when we would present live performances. And what incredible performances they were! Twenty-five outstanding young American pianists descended upon Miami hailing from 13 states across the US. Thankfully the material from the live broadcast has been archived and beautifully edited into 25 individual recital videos. The full two days of the Preliminary Round are available to enjoy on the Competition’s YouTube Channel. (Click through to view the videos on YouTube and to access the entire Preliminary Round Playlist).
Chopin Salons @ Home: April through December
When the concert halls closed back in March, the Chopin Foundation found a way to stay connected with many of the Competition laureates and members of the distinguished Jury. Every two weeks or so for the past nine months, we’ve enjoyed sharing interviews, recordings and “fun facts” about the artists. All the episodes can be found on the Foundation’s website news feed and since April, the episode pages have been viewed over 9000 times! Here are the quick links to each of this year’s 17 episodes along with the repertoire featured in each:
April 16 - Evren Ozel: Mazurkas Op. 56, Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61, Impromptu, Op. 36
April 26 - Eric Lu (1st Prize Winner 2015): 3 Chopin Preludes, Schumann: Geistervariationen “Ghost Variations” & Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11
May 8 - Umi Garrett: Nocturne in F-sharp minor, Op. 48, No. 2, Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10, No. 4, Etude in E minor, Op. 25, No. 5, Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54, Mazurkas Op. 59, Nos. 2 & 3
May 27 - Chelsea Guo: 24 Preludes Op.28, and 4 Mazurkas Op. 33, Mozart C minor Sonata K. 457 (complete 3 movements), plus The Serpent as soprano
June 9 - Avery Gagliano: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2, Etude in F Major, Op. 10, No. 8, Etude in E minor, Op. 25, No. 5, Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, Franz Liszt's "La Leggierezza," and Adagio from the Bach Violin Sonata No. 1 in g minor - yes on violin!
June 22 - Parker Van Ostrand: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 1 Etude in B Minor, Op. 25, No. 10 Etude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1 Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31, and Mozart’s “Turkish March” (arranged)
July 7 - Talon Smith: Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49, Mazurkas, Op. 59, Sonata in B minor, Op. 58
July 22 - Ning An: Sonata no 3 op 58 mov III, Ballade No. 2 in a minor, plus a little gem from Maria Callas
August 5 - Antonio Pompa-Baldi: Twelve Etudes, Op. 10, Ottorino Respighi: Sonata in B minor (transcription by Pompa-Baldi) plus his selection of Arturo Benedetti-Michelangeli playing Scarlatti.
August 18 - Peter Miyamoto - Nocturne, Op. 55, No. 2 and Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39, Debussy Pagodes from Estampes. Sheep May Safely Graze by and in memory of Leon Fleisher, plus a special documentary on the teachings of Maria Curcio
September 1 - Jon Nakamatsu: Mendelssohn - Piano Trio No. 1 in d, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2, Fantasie-Impromptu (Chopin)
September 17 - Edward Auer: – Ballade in A flat major, op. 47 (1965), Prelude in A flat major, Op. 28 No. 17 (1965), Ballade in A-Flat Major, Op. 47 Mazurka in F Minor, Op. 63 No. 2 Mazurka in A-Flat Major, Op. 59 No. 2 Mazurka in B Major, Op. 56 No. 1 Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 42 Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2 Nocturne in G Major, Op. 37 No. 2 Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 (2015)
October 2 - Rachel Kudo: Nocturne Op.27 No.2 in D flat major, Bach French Suite No.5 BWV816 in G major, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": II. Adagio un poco mosso (Leon Fleisher, pianist - in tribute)
October 14 - Dominic Muzzi: Nocturne in F-sharp Major, Op. 15, No. 2, Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44, Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1. Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47, Nocturne in F Major, Op. 15, No. 1, Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, Scriabin Sonata No. 5 Op. 53, Respighi Notturno
October 28 - A History of the International Chopin Piano Competition - a special retrospective produced by the Chopin Institute in Warsaw plus special recordings from American winners, Kevin Kenner and Eric Lu
November 17 - Misha Galant: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 42, Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 (“Heroic”), Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
December 7 - Magdalena Baczewska: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2, Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72, No. 1, Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor (on harpsichord AND piano - with tutorial)
We hope this indexed listing makes it easy to find your favorite pieces! Bookmark the page for easy access to many of the best “Chopinists” performing today.
The Future is Looking Bright
January 2021- A New Chopin for All and Special Salon Concert
Saturday, January 9 - 3PM: A live Conversation with Evren Ozel, Silver Medalist and an exclusive broadcast of his 2nd Round Recital - REGISTER NOW
Sunday, January 17 - 4PM: A live Conversation with Kevin Kenner, Chair of the 2020 Competition Jury and a special performance produced exclusively for the Chopin Foundation. LEARN MORE.
LAST TWO DAYS TO DONATE THIS CALENDAR YEAR
If you enjoy our work, please help us with a charitable year-end donation, if you are able. This has been a challenging year for everyone and we deeply appreciate your support now more than ever.
During this time we hope you find solace and peace in the beautiful music of Chopin.
Chopin Foundation programs are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the City of Coral Gables. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Funding Arts Broward; the Miami Salon Group; and scores of generous donors.