Featuring:
Kasparas UINSKAS (piano)
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Atvars LAKSTĪGLA
Programme:
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849):
Part I
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1 (1830)
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Romanze — Larghetto
III. Rondo — Vivace
Part II
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.2 (1829)
I. Maestoso
II. Larghetto
III. Allegro vivace
The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra offers its audience a unique opportunity to hear both piano concertos written by the poetic genius of piano music, Frédéric Chopin, in one evening.
At the piano this evening we will see the internationally recognized Lithuanian pianist Kasparas Uinskas, who is praised by critics for his virtuosity and romantic manner of playing the piano. His repertoire covers a wide range of composers, from Johann Sebastian Bach to the 20th century music, however his programmes mostly include composers of the Romantic era.
The two concertos for piano and orchestra by Frédéric Chopin are among the most beautiful pieces of the Romantic era in their genre.
Frederick Chopin (1810-1849) was a representative of the new romantic style, one of the most important Polish musicians of all time and one of the world's most important composers and performers of piano music.
His compositions are not only beautiful and emotional, but also technically challenging, so they are still popular among professionals and listeners alike.
In 1812, Frederick Chopin's family moved to Warsaw, and a few years later he began studying piano under the guidance of his mother. The boy developed rapidly as a pianist and in February 1818, at the age of eight, he performed for a wider audience for the first time. This was followed by many larger and smaller concerts – mostly in circles of friends and acquaintances, where performances were compared to those of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Imagine a young, energetic pianist performing his latest work in his native Warsaw. This is Frederick Chopin in 1830, when he premiered his Piano Concerto No.1.
Chopin's Piano Concerto No.1 is like a journey through different moods and emotions. From the epic and heroic beginning to the lyrical and poetic middle part and back to the energetic and cheerful finale.
Interestingly, although this is the "First" piano concerto, Chopin actually wrote it after his Piano Concerto No.2. The reason for this exchange is simple – Chopin was not satisfied with the orchestration of his first concerto and decided to rework it.
Chopin's First Piano Concerto is beautiful and emotional, and also technically challenging. It requires mastery and virtuosity from the pianist, as well as the ability to live in every note and convey their emotions to the listeners. The premiere of the piece took place on October 12, 1830, and it turned out to be a "huge success..." The concert was attended by about 700 people. Seven weeks later, in Paris, already after the political unrest in Poland, Chopin performed this piece in France for the first time, in the Pleyel Hall. Again, it was well received, and the next day François-Joseph Fétis wrote in La Revue musicale that "There is spirit in these melodies, there is fantasy in these fragments, and everywhere there is originality."
On the other hand, Robert Schumann, in 1836, reviewed Chopin's concerts in Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, and pointed out that "Chopin introduces the spirit of Beethoven into the concert hall with these pieces."
Chopin's Piano Concerto No.2 was created in the fall of 1829.
The work consists of three parts, which are typical of instrumental concerts of that time. It is believed that the second part – Larghetto, written in the form of a nocturne – was inspired by Chopin's admiration for the Polish soprano Konstancja Gładkowska. The virtuoso finale is written in rondo form, and the last parts for the piano are considered extremely technically difficult.
The most authentic romantic spirit, unique and wonderful, flowed in Chopin's veins. Neither symphony, nor opera, nor other genres tempted a man whose energy was devoted solely to the creation of a new world of poetry, expressiveness and technique in piano playing.
Piano concertos were a career necessity, as a young pianist-composer was expected to offer such business cards to the public.
After Chopin's debut in Paris, the critic François-Joseph Fétis wrote:
“Here is a young man who, following his natural inclinations and not taking an example, has found, if not a way to fully revive piano music, then at least a part of what has been sought in vain for so long, that is, an abundance of original ideas that are not found anywhere else. This does not mean that Chopin is endowed with the power of Beethoven, or that his music contains the vitality of the concept that is so remarkable in this great man. Beethoven composed music for the piano, but I am talking here about music for pianists, and in this area I find in Chopin's inspiration indications of a change in form that could significantly affect this branch of art in the future.”
Kasparas Uinskas is an internationally acclaimed pianist, praised by critics for his virtuosity and romantic style. Uinskas is performing at most important world concert halls – New York’s Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, London Wigmore Hall, Madrid Auditorio Nacional, J. F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC among others.
Uinskas is a frequent guest at many international music festivals throughout Europe and the USA, including the Aspen Music Festival (USA), the Music Festival of the Hamptons (USA), the South Shore Music (USA), and Holland Music Sessions. Also, Uinskas has appeared as a soloist at the Verbier Festival as recipient of the Reuter’s Grand Prix, awarded by the festival.
His repertoire includes works by a wide range of composers, from Johann Sebastian Bach to 20th Century, however composers of the romantic era dominate significant part of his repertoire. Recent releases include Uinskas’ CD of his Chopin recital and the DVD of his live concert at the Berlin Philharmonie. The CD with Chopin 12 Etudes Op. 25, Rachmaninov Sonata No. 2 and Debussy miniatures has been released by UK company Stone Records in September 2015.
Uinskas is a frequent guest on the Radio and TV programs, including BBC Radio 3 program In Tune; the classical music radio station of The New York Times, program Reflections from the Keyboard on the WQXR with David Dubal, Lithuanian National Television and Radio and many others.
The summer (2010) Uinskas became an artistic director of the “New Musical Generation summer festival and academy”, to which he invited the most outstanding musicians from ten countries, who gave concerts ten days in a row, as well as during the day time taught academy students from all over the world. Uinskas also actively teaches students at Masterclasses, organized by the main Lithuanian high school – National M. K. Ciurlionis school of Arts and at main University – Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Along with his concert career Uinskas participates in an outreach programs in promoting classical music for the youth. From the 2006, pianist develops and runs a classical music educational program in the high schools of Lithuania. The purpose of the project is to present live classical music to the young people. The project turned out to be a great success and was well received by students. For the whole project time, life classical music was heard by about 8000 students.
Kasparas Uinskas was born in Lithuania. He began studying the piano at the age of six. He studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he graduated his Doctoral studies, Frédéric Chopin Music University in Warsaw (with prof. Bugaij), Poland, and The Juilliard School in New York (with the prof. Kalichstein), as a recipient of the Vladimir Horowitz Scholarship.
The Concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, State Culture Capital Foundation, Liepāja City.
INFORMATION FOR OUR VISITORS:
Discounts:
Pupils, students, disabled persons, pensioners – 3 euros
3+ family card holders – 30%
Teachers, lecturers and medical workers – 20%
Groups (10 or more people) – 20%
When purchasing group tickets online, please send an e-mail to sales@lso.lv
When attending the concert, the visitor must present a document certifying their eligibility to a discount.
Useful:
The concert is accessible to people with hearing impairments, as the induction loop function will be activated during it. Based on the experiences of people with hearing impairments when trying this system, the best listening experience is possible in seats in the center parterre area from rows 5 to 12 - from 6 to 28.
