Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Piano Explored

Part of the London Mozart Players 2019/20 Cycle

Add to my Calendar 05-02-2020 13:05 05-02-2020 15:05 36 Piano Explored The London Mozart Players’ 2019/20 Piano Explored lunchtime series continues with another of Howard Shelley’s favourite piano concertos, performed to mark his 70th birthday year. Take some time out and enjoy sublime music and Howard’s trademark ‘deconstruction’ of a great work, all in a whistle-stop lunch hour! Written when the composer was only twenty, Chopin’s piano concerto in E minor is full of exquisite virtuosic writing. The second movement, the ‘Romanza’, with its lush and romantic melodies is particularly beautiful. Chopin suggested that ‘it should give the impression of gazing tenderly at a place which brings to mind a thousand dear memories’. The energetic final movement, based on a Polish folk dance, is vivacious and contemplative by turns, and it is no wonder that on its premiere the Warsaw audience greeted Chopin’s performance with ‘deafening bravos’ – according to the composer. The simplicity of the orchestral accompaniment gives the piece an intimate quality seldom heard in concertos, allowing the soloist the freedom to explore the full expressive range of the piano. Howard Shelley has recorded many discs for the Chopin Institute in Warsaw. They also invite him annually to give concerts and masterclasses in their ‘Chopin and his Europe’ Festival.   St John's Smith Square, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St John's Smith Square
Smith Square
City of Westminster
London
SW1P 3HA
England

Programme

Frédéric Chopin – Piano Concerto no.1 in E minor, Op.11

Performers

Howard Shelley – piano

London Mozart Players

Other concerts in this Cycle

Gala Opening Concert

Piano Explored

Piano Explored

Piano Explored

Piano Explored

Old Masters Young Talent

The MozART Connection

View all concerts in this Cycle

Programme Note

The London Mozart Players’ 2019/20 Piano Explored lunchtime series continues with another of Howard Shelley’s favourite piano concertos, performed to mark his 70th birthday year. Take some time out and enjoy sublime music and Howard’s trademark ‘deconstruction’ of a great work, all in a whistle-stop lunch hour!

Written when the composer was only twenty, Chopin’s piano concerto in E minor is full of exquisite virtuosic writing. The second movement, the ‘Romanza’, with its lush and romantic melodies is particularly beautiful. Chopin suggested that ‘it should give the impression of gazing tenderly at a place which brings to mind a thousand dear memories’. The energetic final movement, based on a Polish folk dance, is vivacious and contemplative by turns, and it is no wonder that on its premiere the Warsaw audience greeted Chopin’s performance with ‘deafening bravos’ – according to the composer. The simplicity of the orchestral accompaniment gives the piece an intimate quality seldom heard in concertos, allowing the soloist the freedom to explore the full expressive range of the piano.

Howard Shelley has recorded many discs for the Chopin Institute in Warsaw. They also invite him annually to give concerts and masterclasses in their ‘Chopin and his Europe’ Festival.

 

LMP at SJSS

Get a route map

Your Map