Chopin’s Piano

In a small mountain village on the island of Mallorca Chopin took delivery of a small upright piano, made by an artisan in the island capital Palma. Whilst there in the confines of a small monastery with his lover George Sand he wrote the extraordinary 24 Preludes Opus 28. Last night in the splendour of the Royal Pavilion Music Room we were treated to the story of that piano and a beautiful rendition of these magical preludes. Paul Kildea, author of the book Chopin’s Piano read a précis of the story, a fascinating account of the journey this modest but vitally important instrument made. Perhaps not the most fluid of readers it mattered little as the content was so rich and engrossing.

Even richer though was Cédric Tiberghien’s incredibly sensitive playing of the works, gently coaxing, and fierily beating the preludes from a modern Steinway, he brought the story fully to life, the passions and sadnesses of Chopin’s life and the terrible story of Nazi actions on the world of European art and music. My own trip to Valdemosa in those Balearic mountains was brought vibrantly back to life in this simply unmissable event – concert, literature and drama brought beautifully to life. I cannot wait now to read the book.

Royal Pavilion Music Room

17 May

Andrew Kay

Rating:

Chopin’s Piano,  A Journey through Romanticism

Paul Kildea Published 7 June

Allen Lane