The New York Frederic Chopin Piano Competition
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space Symphony Space Music |
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In celebration of the Chopin Bicentennial, this competition presents today’s most promising young pianists, selected from the finest conservatories and music schools, in performances of Chopin’s best-known études, ballades, mazurkas, polonaises, préludes and waltzes. Join the panel of distinguished international judges, including Ewa Kupiec, Benjamin Hochman, Philip Kennicott, and Daniel Epstein, and be part of the decision-making process for the Grand prize -- a 2011 recital at Symphony Space in New York and a weeklong trip to Poland for an international debut recital in Warsaw.
About Frederic Chopin:
Chopin was born to a French father and Polish mother near Warsaw, Poland in 1810 and began performing and composing at a very young age. His first composition was written at age 7. He began growing in popularity outside Poland in 1830, after the publishing of his Variations, Op. 2, for piano and orchestra on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano." The work prompted contemporary composer Robert Schumann to declare him "a genius." Chopin left Poland soon thereafter for Paris, France. He debuted on February 26, 1832 at the age of 21 to an audience that included Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn and Luigi Cherubini.
Chopin composed almost exclusively for piano. His catalogue is one of the most profound and influential ever written for the instrument. His legacy includes 20 nocturnes, 25 preludes, 17 waltzes, 15 polonaises, 58 mazukas and 27 etudes. Chopin died on October 17, 1849 in Paris, at the unfortunate young age of 39.
Maurizio Pollini plays Chopin's "Etude op. 10 no. 1"
Martha Argerich plays Chopin's "Andante spianato"
