....a roundup of Chopiniana: current news, views, reviews, recordings and performances in the runup to the 200th birthday of the matchless Polish keyboard composer.

Showing posts with label Diana Fanning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diana Fanning. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Chopin Currency - July 6, 2008


Chopin News, Reviews, and Previews:

‘The Year of Sembrich’ features pianist Simon Mulligan as part of ...
Schenectady Gazette - Schenectady,NY,USA


News of a series of events marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Polish-American soprano and vocal instructor Marcella Sembrich, (1858-1935) sponsored by the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum on the shores of Lake George, NY. "Programs will include works by composers she either knew personally or whose arias she sang — she took walks with Brahms and discussed the fine points of vocal production with Puccini."


A Frederic Chopin Festival will be held from July 23 to 27. “It’s an apt time,” said Richard Wargo, the museum’s artistic director and opera composer. “Sembrich was born 10 years after Chopin’s death. She was very particular to end her solo recitals with his ‘A Maiden’s Wish’, in which she sang and played piano. Because he was her compatriot, we thought him a likely composer to celebrate.” Both she and Chopin were Polish.

Pianist Simon Mulligan will set the tone of the season at his recital on Saturday, July 12, with a program that includes Liszt’s “Reminiscences of Lucia”, Chopin’s Ballade in G minor and his “Raindrop” Prelude and Mulligan’s own transcription of Offenbach’s Barcarolle from “The Tales of Hoffman.”

[...]

The Chopin Festival (July 23 to 27) begins at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday with Ruth Albert Spencer’s talk on the liaison between the writer George Sand and Chopin. Pianist Christopher Johnson will also play.

“It’s the scholarly approach as opposed to the Hollywood fanfare of the film ‘Impromptu,’ ” Wargo said.

The 1991 movie will be shown at no charge that night at 7:30 p.m. in the Bolton Town Hall.

On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, pianist Diana Fanning will play several solo Chopin works and with cellist Dieuke Davydov will play Chopin’s Cello Sonata and his Polonaise Brilliante. Johnson returns at 7:30 p.m. Friday with narrator Lindsay Gates, who will give a dramatic reading about Chopin’s affair with the singer Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale.

In 1848, Chopin was broken in health and spirit after his breakup with Sand and took a trip to England and Scotland, where he met Lind.

“She wanted to marry him, but Chopin felt it was too late,” Wargo said.

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Chopin Videos:

F.Chopin "Valse a moll" "Chopin-Pragnienie milosci"
By Daria(Daria)

From the Famous Polka Dancers and Musicians blogsite, Chopin on the Squeezebox...


Frederic Chopin`s "Waltz in a minor", romantic music from the movie "Chopin: The need for love". Solo accordion Miroslaw Marks.


Famous Polka Dancers and Musicians - http://famouspolkadancers.blogspot.com/

Friday, February 22, 2008

The Chopin Currency: Feb. 22, 2008


Chopin News, Reviews, & Previews:

Pianist Diana Fanning

Well-traveled Middlebury-based pianist offers a recital in the Vermont state capital with an emphasis on Chopin: "I have chosen pieces that I have loved for years, and I think they illustrate different aspects of Chopin's artistry, from the utmost delicacy to tremendous power."
Barre Montpelier Times Argus - Barre,VT,USA
Works of Frederic Chopin comprise the entire second half of the program. Fanning says, "I have so enjoyed thinking about the poetic and passionate music of ...
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Debut album 'Equanimity' is dream come true for computer consultant

Computer consultant-turned-composer Ryan Stewart cites Chopin as one of his major influences on his new CD that ranges from "solo piano to lush orchestration."
Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
Stewart's influences range from classical works of Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Debussy to jazz icon Harry Connick Jr., New Age artists Vangelis and film ...
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New album shows Alicia Keys as she is
Richmond reviewer notes one of pop diva's trademarks - showing off her classical chops in concert and on disc...
Commonwealth Times (subscription) - Richmond,VA,USA
Keys begins with a piece that bears a striking resemblance to Frederick Chopin's "Nocturne in C minor." The "As I Am (Intro)" ends with a smooth beat laid ...

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Learning the keys to success
Charming essay about a life lesson learned when a Chopin Nocturne brought a young overachiever to her knees... University Daily Kansan - Lawrence,KS,USA
I was working on a nocturne by Chopin, and for nearly two hours every night, I would sit at my piano going over and over each scale, chord and trill. ...
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Allie Hughes Plays the El Mo

This time, it's a Canadian singer-songwriter who gives a nod to Monsieur Chopin as a major influence....
Torontoist - Ontario, Canada
... to hear that she counts Kurt Weill and Stephen Sondheim among her diverse list of influences (that also includes Chopin, Brahms and plenty of Rufus). ...
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Solo Recital by Pianist Yundi Li

Preview of March 18 Toronto recital by budding Chinese superstar pianist, "propelled to international fame when he won first prize at the 2000 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland at the age of 18."

Exchange Morning Post - Waterloo,Ontario,Canada
His upcoming program includes works by Chopin, Liszt and Mussorgsky’s powerhouse Pictures At An Exhibition. Yundi Li was propelled to international fame ...
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Chopin Videos:

Clip"Scherzo No.1" by Chopin

From a new music-instruction site called "Click for Lessons" a video of a California piano teacher

By thomaspenders@comcast.net (Thomas P.)
Chopin scherzo no.1 performd by Thomas Penders.
Enspired Video - http://enspired.com/

About Chopin2010

My photo
....is a roundup of all things Chopin leading up to the 200th anniversary of the matchless Polish composer for the piano in March 2010.