Chopin Salon @ Home: Chelsea Guo
Until we can see you again at our live events, we are excited to present another edition of Chopin Salons @ Home. We sincerely hope that all of our members and subscribers are keeping safe and healthy, and we invite you to enjoy these specially curated programs online, at home, and at your convenience.
The Chopin Foundation first met Chelsea Guo in 2016 when she applied to year one of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program for Young Pianists. She was just 15 years old and had already formed a real connection with Chopin and his music. Chelsea had made the pilgrimage to Chopin’s homeland the previous year and recognized the connection between his music and Poland’s rich history. The Scholarship committee saw something special too with one juror noting, “ . . . such a wonderful talent, gorgeous sound quality, such natural phrasing, deep understanding of the music, so expressive and mature for [such a ] young age . . . Very bright future ahead.” And over the next four years we watched Chelsea grow and master more Chopin repertoire as she was awarded a full scholarship each year of the program. She also attended the first two years of the Frost Chopin Academy at the University of Miami. Then, all of her hard work paid off earlier this year when Chelsea earned a place among the finalists at the 10th National Chopin Piano Competition.
10th National Chopin Piano Competition- Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 Repertoire: 24 Preludes Op.28, and 4 Mazurkas Op. 33
Competition: Grace under Pressure
Asked to reflect on her time in Miami a few short months ago, Chelsea replied, “The National Chopin Piano Competition was such an incredible experience for me. Even looking back now, I have no idea how it all happened. I honestly cannot believe I was able to handle it at all considering what it really was--the culmination of a year’s worth of exclusive preparation and many years’ worth of anticipation for the event. I remember shaking before every time I stepped on the stage. Every single round, up until I put my hands on the piano, I wanted to run off because of the pressure. But as soon as the first note hit, I remembered why God had placed me there, why it was worth it to spend so much time and energy preparing, because my soul could only properly express itself with music--specifically with Chopin’s music. The journey through this competition was not just a musical one, but a spiritual, mental, and emotional one. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
We then asked Chelsea about the 24 Preludes which comprised the better part of her third round performance at the Competition: “I love the 24 Preludes. They are such unique pieces, such masterfully crafted miniatures that also tell a narrative as a whole. Every single prelude takes you into a new universe, and each time playing them through is a special experience for me (as well as exhausting). I started to learn the first few (Nos. 1-8) two years ago and the rest about a year ago, and I have found over this time of living with the 24 Preludes that it seems like there is an endless amount to discover and learn. I don’t think I can say I have favorites because I love (almost) all of them equally, but there are definitely ones that I don’t favor as much--not as pieces, but to play, personally.”
From Mozart to Chopin
History tells us that Chopin was partial to two composers: Bach and Mozart. He also was drawn to two instruments: the piano and the human voice. And it was the human voice that drew Chopin to Mozart. It is hard to argue Chopin’s passion for bel canto melodies and this is why he so admired Mozart and even wrote variations to Mozart’s famous aria La ci darem de Mano. It is no wonder that piano teachers tell their students to make the piano “sing” when playing Chopin’s beautiful melodies. Chelsea Guo clearly understands the connection between the piano and the voice.
“When I first heard the Mozart C Minor Sonata, I was shocked at how symphonic and operatic it was. Other sonatas are as well, of course, but this one particularly struck me. From the very opening, there is so much drama, and I was sure I could find similar parallels in Mozart’s operas. I got busy listening and found through the “Met Opera On Demand” catalog, one main opera that had such a similar effect and texture: Idomeneo. I got so excited, and I ended up spending hours in front of the piano playing sections and listening to segments of the opera--the singing AND orchestration--to try and imitate the sound. I also found a theme from Barbarina’s aria in Le Nozze di Figaro in the third movement of the Sonata, which was a fun little secret I delight in every time I get to it.”
Finding her Voice
“I have been singing for about four years now, and how I got into it is a somewhat amusing story. I was at Juilliard’s pre-college for piano, and I had always heard from piano teachers that it was good for a pianist to take up a second instrument. The pre-college offered a large selection of potential instruments to learn, and me being, well, me, I didn’t want to learn an instrument that I would have to lug around. So, that was the beginning of my singing. The song I am singing here, “The Serpent,” was a huge milestone in my beginning two years of singing.”
At first, Chelsea wasn’t able to face anyone while she sang. She felt too vulnerable. “When I sat at a piano, I didn’t have to look at my audience, and the instrument I played was not my own self.” Noticing that she couldn’t bear to look up from the floor while singing, her teacher, Lorraine Nubar, wisely gave her this song by Lee Hoiby to loosen her up. “As you can see, I was able to let go of my insecurity pretty well. However, I have to credit some of my confidence in this performance to YoungArts.” Like the Chopin Foundation, YoungArts is a Miami-based organization that supports young American artists. Chelsea was a silver medalist in 2019 and is now a proud alumni. “Singing this song as a YoungArts finalist was so special. The minute I stepped out onto the stage, the audience, partially made up of 150 of my fellow young artists (musicians, dancers, actors, writers, visual artists, designers, architects, etc.) also selected as finalists, showed me so much support, so much love, that my confidence completely skyrocketed.”
At the YoungArts Campus in Miami for National YoungArts Week 2019. Learn more: youngarts.org
Thank you for joining us for this Chopin Salon @ Home. We hope you enjoyed getting to know Chelsea Guo. You will not want to miss this versatile and accomplished artist when she performs - as soon as we are able bring back live music to our Chopin for All Concerts in Miami - next season!
Please let us know what you think: info@chopin.org
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.