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By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Two hundred years ago on this day, March 1, 1810, a baby boy was born in a small village in the Duchy of Warsaw. He would grow up to become a child piano prodigy and subsequently a prolific composer.
"If you can't play, then you teach" has long been the opinion held in the music world. But Frederic Chopin, piano child prodigy extraordinaire, was an exception. After relocating to Paris due to the political climate, he led a quiet, comfortable life teaching and composing ― though not without whirlwind passion, which he famously shared with the iconic French writer Aurore Dupin, better known as George Sand.
He died in Paris in 1849 due to poor health at the age of 39. But life is short and art is long, and to this day, works by this ``poet of the piano'' continue to be a staple musical repertoire, and various events are taking place around the world and hot albums are in stores to fete Chopin's 200th birthday.
Around the world, various events are being held throughout the year to celebrate the bicentennial. In Seoul, Chopin specialist Yoon Chul-hee wrapped up his Chopin concert series on Feb. 18, while in London the 2nd Chopin Forum invited various pianists, academics and technicians.
Beginning Monday, the most esteemed players du jour, including Piotr Anderszewski, Daniel Barenboim, Murray Perahia, Martha Argerich, Dang Thai Son and Yundi Li flocked to Warsaw for concerts beginning Feb. 22, which, according to church records, is his birthday. March 1 on the other hand was mentioned as his birthday in Chopin's private letters; the serial concerts thus continue through Monday.
At Kings Place, London, the second of a three-part concert series ``Chopin Unwrapped'' will take place over a week, from March 8 to 14. Martino Tirimo will play various works, including rarely performed songs on March 11. The third part of the series will take place in October. Visit www.kingsplace.co.uk. In the nearby St. John's Smith Square Hall, Artur Pizzaro is offering a string of recitals through December (www.sjss.org.uk).
In Paris, some of the hottest pianists will gather for 15 recitals from March 9 to 14, dubbed ``Chopin l'Europeen.'' The event is organized by Cite de la Musique and the Warsaw Chopin Institute. Visit http://chopin2010.pl.
Those who cannot travel to Europe to take part in the festivities can buy recordings by top artists.
Russian piano sensation Evgeny Kissin, who entered the international spotlight playing Chopin's Piano Concertos at age 12, has released a 5-CD limited edition box. ``Kissin Plays Chopin'' (RCA Red Seal) features a selection of sonatas, nocturnes and scherzos as well as the complete impromptus, polonaises and nocturnes.
Chinese superstar Yundi Li, who became the youngest winner of the Chopin Piano Competition in 2000, has his first album under the EMI label featuring the complete nocturnes by the composer that made him famous.
French heartthrob Alexandre Tharaud, who has appeared with top orchestras and chamber ensembles all over the world, offers his interpretation of Chopin in ``Journal Intime'' (Virgin Classics). The recording includes a selection of mazurkas and ballades, among others, as well as ``Trois Ecossaises,'' Op. 72, No. 3.
Fans looking for something more diverse might appreciate the anniversary special album released by Sony Classical. ``Frederic Chopin 200th Anniversary'' features five CDs, each featuring works of the master by iconic performers of the 20th and 21st centuries: nocturnes and valses by Arthur Rubinstein, mazurkas and etudes by Vladimir Horowitz, Piano Concerto No. 1 by Jean-Marc Luisada and preludes by Kissin.
Another tasteful compilation is Sony's ``This Is Chopin,'' which includes three CDs of waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, mazurkas, preludes and ballades by various artists, including soloists such as Emanuel Ax, Nelson Preire and Fu Ts'ong, and orchestras like the New York Philharmonic.
EMI Classics offers pieces of Chopin in every proportion, from a 16-CD set album covering his entire oeuvre (``Chopin - The Complete Works 200th Anniversary Edition''), to a 6-CD collection with 100 best-loved Chopin pieces (``100 Best Chopin'') and a more compact album featuring two hours of his tunes (``Essential Chopin'').
hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
