Musica Viva Australia | Chopin’s Piano
July 13, 2023, QPAC
Chopin’s Piano, presented by Musica Viva on Thursday at QPAC, was an evening of musical storytelling that brought Chopin’s biography to life.
Partly a piano recital and partly a play, Chopin’s Piano is an adaption of Paul Kildea’s book. It’s a theatrical retelling of the story of the piano on which Chopin composed his most famous work.
Featuring pianist Aura Go and actor Jennifer Vuletic, this concert-slash-play is not your typical recital! The show is directed by Richard Pyros, with sound design by Kelly Ryall, dramatic lighting by Richard Vabre and period costumes by Christina Smith.
Chopin’s Piano dress rehearsal at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Aaron Francis Photography / Musica Viva
Act 1 begins in darkness. A spotlight then shines on the piano-maker Juan Bauza (Jennifer), telling us about the piano he has just built, which will become Chopin’s. We then meet Chopin (Aura) and his long-time romantic partner, George Sand (Jennifer). Aura performs Chopin’s 24 Preludes, at times being interrupted by his lover and his friends, including Franz Liszt and the artist Eugéne Delacroix. Chopin struggles with illness, eventually dying from tuberculosis. The lights fade back to darkness.
After the interval, Act 2 introduces us to Wanda Landowska (Jennifer), a harpsichordist who buys Chopin’s piano in Paris. She performs recitals as the Nazis invade and bomb the city. She then flees to the US, and the Nazis steal her piano. After making it through customs, she settles in the ‘new world’, and enjoys her career. Later, the piano is recovered, but Wanda is too old to travel back to Paris. She dies, leaving her inheritance and the piano, to her student, Denise Restout (Aura). Aura then performs the rest of Chopin’s Preludes, full of passion and vivacity. The show ends just as it began: with the spotlight on the piano-maker, before fading to darkness.
Chopin’s Piano dress rehearsal at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Aaron Francis Photography / Musica Viva
Chopin’s Piano was a fun way to spend a weeknight! I was totally absorbed in the story and found myself wanting to know more about this piano’s journey. Aura and Jennifer were a fun pair to watch, as they brought the cast of historical characters to life. Aura stunned us with her virtuosic and mesmerising piano playing, her fingers flying up and down the keys. They were certainly deserving of our applause!
Chopin’s Piano was presented in Brisbane as part of a national tour, from 8-26 July, 2023. If you missed it here, be sure to catch it in another city!
Photo Credit: Aaron Francis Photography / Musica Viva
