The Dworek Chopina and the Chopin Monument in Duzniki Zdroj (then known as Bad Reinerz in Silesia) circa 1897 Chopin statue in Havana, Cuba Biographical details of performers and their programmes are available here https://festival.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Chopin-2020-eng.pdf Note These reviews are now complete. I also reviewed the extensive and demanding Chopin i jego Europa Festival (Chopin and his Europe Festival) 15-31 August 2020 Warsaw https://festiwal.nifc.pl/en Profile of the Reviewer Michael Moran https://en.gravatar.com/mjcmoran#pic-0 SATURDAY, 15 AUGUST CHOPIN MANOR 8:00 pm FINAL PIANO RECITAL KEVIN KENNER Kevin Kenner Ned Rorem (b.1923) Kevin Kenner began his recital with a composition by an American composer little known in Poland or to me. Ned Rorem studied at Northwestern University and at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, later serving as secretary and copyist to Virgil Thomson and completing his musical studies at the Juilliard Institute. He
'Chopin and His Europe’ Festival Warsaw, Poland 15-31 August 2020 Chopin and his Europe Festival Website https://festiwal.nifc.pl/en Programme and Programme Notes https://festiwal.nifc.pl/en/2020/kalendarium We regret to announce that due to the progress of the pandemic in North America, pianists Garrick Ohlsson and Charles Richard-Hamelin have been obliged to withdraw from the 16th Chopin and His Europe Festival. As the festival programme (link above) now has full and informative online background historical notes on the genesis of works to be performed by eminent musicologists, this aspect of my reviewing is no longer necessary. I shall restrict myself mainly to personal assessment of performances Profile of the Reviewer Michael Moran https://en.gravatar.com/mjcmoran#pic-0 The pandemic and seat distancing in the audience, all wearing masks of various hues and patterns, has created a rather melancholic although occasionally lighthearted vista of depriva
So late at night but enthusiasm has taken over tact. A few rough notes! I have been listening to the new Alexei Lubimov CD recorded on the 1843 Pleyel pianino Serial No: 10112 by that Polish genius of sound recording of Lech Dudzic and Gabriela Blicharz. The instrument was restored and donated to the National Fryderyk Chopin Institute in 2018 by the pianist Alex Szilasi. It is absolutely wonderful..... the sound of this instrument is intimate, varied in seductive sound coloration, a delicacy that touches the sensibility in an utterly unique manner. Pianissimo is barely there like wraith drifting across the room. The polyphony of the Bach is astonishingly beautiful and the fugal voices so clear and transparent. Ravishingly eloquent. The Barcarolle is remarkable as the instrument limits the dynamic range possible, avoiding the crazy exaggerations that a Steinway, Fazioli or Yamaha permits some pianists. Just the rise and fall of agitated lover’s emotions ....... a revelation in