Monsieur Chopin
Hey journal. It's been a while. I've been thinking about you. I had you before facebook was even a thing. I've missed the long thoughts I used to share with you.
I think I'll just get right into it:
I saw a lovely piece of theater tonight with my mother. It's called Monsieur Chopin. It's a one-man show, and Hershey Felder has done a wonderful job both writing and starring in this play. The scene is set with Chopin as the piano instructor and the audience as his pupils. He then started the lesson. Felder actually played the piano for us as Chopin. He would explain his technique and his choice of melody, harmony, and tempo whilst sharing stories. Pieces were played as a picture was painted -- The high trill was his younger sister dancing, the bass his father talking.
And this way we went through his life. Chopin left Poland and eventually wound up in Paris. There he met many other artists and aristocrats. Felder captured Chopin's interaction with and opinion of the Hungarian composer Franz Lizst quite comically. Chopin absolutely abhorred Lizst's work, and Felder brutalized it on stage, playing for us and demonstrating the vulgarity of Lizst in comparison to Chopin.
Near the end of the show came a wonderful improvisational surprise. Chopin asked his students, the audience, if we had any questions. After some apprehension, questions led to colorful stories and strongly expressed opinions, all the while in character. When asked his favorite composers, which were Bach and Mozart, Chopin played some of their work and shared his appreciation in a way only a devout fan can. He then trashed Beethoven, showing his work to be brutal and without nuance. This illustrated how perfectly in character Felder was: Another play he wrote was titled Beethoven, As I Knew Him.
Altogether the play left me extremely impressed. I left with a deeper appreciation for Chopin and a greater love for theater.
I think I'll just get right into it:
I saw a lovely piece of theater tonight with my mother. It's called Monsieur Chopin. It's a one-man show, and Hershey Felder has done a wonderful job both writing and starring in this play. The scene is set with Chopin as the piano instructor and the audience as his pupils. He then started the lesson. Felder actually played the piano for us as Chopin. He would explain his technique and his choice of melody, harmony, and tempo whilst sharing stories. Pieces were played as a picture was painted -- The high trill was his younger sister dancing, the bass his father talking.
And this way we went through his life. Chopin left Poland and eventually wound up in Paris. There he met many other artists and aristocrats. Felder captured Chopin's interaction with and opinion of the Hungarian composer Franz Lizst quite comically. Chopin absolutely abhorred Lizst's work, and Felder brutalized it on stage, playing for us and demonstrating the vulgarity of Lizst in comparison to Chopin.
Near the end of the show came a wonderful improvisational surprise. Chopin asked his students, the audience, if we had any questions. After some apprehension, questions led to colorful stories and strongly expressed opinions, all the while in character. When asked his favorite composers, which were Bach and Mozart, Chopin played some of their work and shared his appreciation in a way only a devout fan can. He then trashed Beethoven, showing his work to be brutal and without nuance. This illustrated how perfectly in character Felder was: Another play he wrote was titled Beethoven, As I Knew Him.
Altogether the play left me extremely impressed. I left with a deeper appreciation for Chopin and a greater love for theater.