Chopin’s genius changed the course of the piano – and music itself – yet it also bridged the gap between the connoisseur and the casual listener. The great Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein, reflecting on his long career, noted how Chopin’s music transcends barriers, uniting people from all walks of life, saying,
“Sometimes, I think that I am not so much a pianist but a vampire. All my life, I have lived off the blood of Chopin.”
James Lisney makes his Stoller Hall debut with some of Chopin’s best-loved piano music. This programme displays the Polish composer’s mastery of epic narration (the ballades), profound poetry (a representative selection of nocturnes), and the skills of the salon virtuoso (the impromptus).
“Audiences and pianists love this music, and playing it is a fascinating challenge. Chopin gets to the heart of our physical relationship with the instrument and the beauty and meaning implicit in the score. His music exemplifies exactitude and classical values combined with the virtuoso skills of poetic recreation and improvisation.” James Lisney
“James Lisney has the rare ability to play Chopin with a genuine pianissimo, as well as possessing a full range of power and sensitivity when required. Chopin playing of fine quality and discernment.” – Musical Opinion
