Thursday evening in Kraków Philharmonic Hall belongs to the consummate Canadian pianist, Louis Lortie. The artist is a recognised performer of Chopin’s music, and one of few to perform all Chopin’s études in a single recital. Thus Kraków music lovers are in for a grand event, as the programme will be performed only once, during the festival. This is what Professor M. Tomaszewski says about the 12 Études Op. 10 that Chopin dedicated to Franz Liszt:
“For the first time, technical virtuosity has been combined in such an organic way with a poetic character. The twelve exercises in piano bring twelve discrete universes of sound, each branded with its unalterably own expression.”
This, in turn, is what the professor says about the 12 Études Op. 25:
“The second étude collection, dedicated to Liszt’s friend Marie d’Agoult, appeared in 1837, i.e. at the threshold of the apogee phase in Chopin’s oeuvre. Robert Schumann greeted it with the words: “forceful and moving.” Each of the twelve carried a different piano-playing task, and each featured a different type of expression.”
This concert is going to be a true delight in the Jubilee Year of Fryderyk Chopin.
The entire article by Professor M. Tomaszewski can be found in the catalogue of the 14th Festival, available during the concerts.