The Images and Atmospheres in Chopin Études

The Rui Cunha Foundation presents today, Tuesday, September 19th at 6:30pm, a special session of “Music Illustrated Talks” at the FRC Gallery, entitled “The Images and Atmospheres in Chopin Études – From the perspective of a Pianist” and conducted by the highly acclaimed Professor Leung Hio Ming, in anticipation of his concert “Gradus ad Parnassum: Chopin” that will take place on September 22nd in the Small Auditorium of Macau Cultural Center (CCM).

The introduction to the theme of Chopin’s Études (Studies), which will be performed in full at the CCM concert, justifies a prior conversation about the relevance of the two compositions for Piano, Op. 10 and Op. 25, by Frédéric Chopin. The format will be similar to events previously held at FRC, dedicated to “The Cornerstones of Romantic Piano Music”, in 2021, and the “Gateway to the Romantic: Beethoven the Giant”, in 2022.

«When Chopin published his two sets of Piano Études, Op. 10 and Op. 25, piano performance has entered a brand new era. Never before had anyone imagined that the execution technique could be this innovative, and never after was there any pianist-composer who could escape his influence. Above all, Chopin has transformed simple piano exercises into art forms of the highest level. Each Étude not only presents technical concentration challenges, but is also a poem of color, atmosphere, emotion, drama, history, ecstasy, etc. Both sets are like a bible for every pianist. And the two are rarely performed in a same concert», according to Leung Hio Ming.

Chopin’s Études are, in fact, three sets of compositions for piano, published between the years 1829 and 1833. In total there are twenty-seven compositions, with the two most important collections numbered Op. 10 and Op. 25, each with twelve separate themes. There are still three other compositions left, which never received the title or number of Opus. These musical creations by Chopin formed the basis of what became a revolutionary style of piano playing. They are some of the most challenging and evocative pieces of all works in the piano concerto repertoire.

This masterclass illustrated with words and music will reveal what images and atmospheres the prestigious Professor sees in these works of art created by the brilliant Polish pianist. «Chopin never gave any name to his Études, and he seldom spoke about his music». But since they were created, they have been considered true masterpieces. «Chopin’s Études can be appreciated from different angles and dimensions to form completely different views, apprehensions and understandings».

Leung Hio Ming (梁曉鳴) is a pianist, with a BA in Music (1987), Masters in Piano Performance (1989) and Music Theory (1993), and a PhD in Musical Arts (2000), degrees obtained from the University of Kansas, in USA. In addition to the extensive list of academic merit awards and distinctions, he is now Visiting Associate Professor at the Macau Polytechnic University (UPM), where he has been teaching Musical Art since 2018.

The session will be presented in English.
Admission is free.
Don’t miss it!
For Macau, Further and Higher!

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