Arts Around Calgary: Jan Lisiecki and the Wonder of the Chopin

If you are a Calgarian involved with classical music in any way, you’ve probably heard of the dashing young Polish-Calgarian pianist Jan Lisiecki. At the young age of fifteen, he is already making a name for himself on the international stage as a musical sensation. Having performed as a soloist with world renowned orchestras like the Sinfonia Varsovia more than forty times, the stage is Jan’s second home. Recently, I’ve had the amazing fortune of attending one of his concerts celebrating the 200^th birthday of Chopin with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the Epcor Centre. It was an excellent concert showcasing the dynamic compositions of Chopin. Thanks so much to Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for giving us front row seats!

The 200^th birthday of Chopin is an event celebrated all the way around the world, from the grand concert halls of Vienna to humble piano recitals of local piano teachers. Jan, who had the privilege of opening internationally the Year of Chopin on Jan. 1^, 2010 at Chopin’s birthplace in Zelazowa Wala, now brings the festivities back home to Calgary.

The concert began with traditional Polish dancing choreographed to Chopin’s patriotic polonaise “Military”, a lively piece of work that opens the show with a festive atmosphere. With colourful costumes and laudable footwork, the Polanie Polish dancers showcased the vibrancy of Polish culture and its prominent influences on Chopin’s many works.

Following the cheerful opening act was Chopin’s beautiful Piano Concerto No.1 in E Minor, performed by Jan and the CPO. Jan actually professionally recorded this piece in his debut album with the Sinfonia Varsovia directed by Howard Shelley (I purchased my own copy that evening and he signed it =), which is on sale now at iTunes. Chopin composed this concerto in his late teens, and he performed it on Oct. 11, 1830 as a farewell to his homeland before he set out  for his international musical journey. This piece is as dramatic as it is lyrical, and Jan performed it with the ease, maturity, and composure well beyond his years. He played the entire concerto from his memory so naturally, it seemed as if he was simply having a dynamic conversation with the orchestra. My favourite part of the piece was the second movement, which was so melodic and melancholic it was almost as if the piano was singing. Listening to a live performance at a concert hall is a complete different experience from listening to a piece at home, the notes resonate in the air as if they have a life of their own.

As an encore, Jan played Chopin’s Nocturne in A Minor, dedicated to Joyce Mathews, who, in his own words, “…has been a wonderful supporter for as long as I can remember.” (15 years!!)

The latter half of the performance featured Camille Saint-Saens’ symphony no.3 in C minor. Originally commissioned by the London Philharmonic Society, the piece won tremendous popularity and success among audiences. Divided into four movements grouped into two pairs, the symphony starts with a hurried allegro, transcends into a slow section, then finishes with a “fantastic scherzo and a majestic finale”. The piece brings out the best of the orchestra, piano, and the grandiose Cathy Organ. Blending in perfectly with all the instruments of the orchestra, from the flute to the tuba, the organ added a harmonious and spectacular layer into the piece.

After the performance, fellow blogger Lisa and I got to have a quick interview with Jan. For someone who has accomplished so many amazing things, Jan is actually very down to earth and friendly in person. Not only is he extraordinarily talented, with a memory and mental capacity that has allowed him to skip junior high school altogether, he is also very hard working. His average practicing time each day, according to him, is around five hours. All this hard work has definitely paid off for the young artist, who has travelled and performed in the USA, Italy, England, China and Poland, and shared the stage with Pinchas Zukerman, Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax. Having a myriad of prestigious awards under his belt, Jan is on the road to become a world-renowned pianist. The famous pianist Artur Rubinstein made his orchestral debut at age 13 and performed at Carnegie Hall at age 17.  Jan, however debutted with the CPO when he was only nine years old!  At the age of 13, Jan gave his first performance at the Carnegie Hall, leaving an echo of Chopin’s Winter Wind with the thousands of great performances of masters before him. As one of the two UNESCO teen representatives in Canada, Jan also does such philanthropic things as throw charity concerts and promoting the goals of the organization. With his schedule packed with performances and concerts all around the world, it is lucky that one of Jan’s favourite hobbies is travelling!

The opening performance starting off CPO’s new season leaves us anticipating great upcoming performances! From a Mozart festival, to Rock ‘n Roll Hits, to Disney family favourites, this season looks very exciting . To check out the complete listing as well as find out more about the CPO, visit: http://www.cpo-live.com/main/

For more information about Jan Lisiecki, visit his website at:  http://www.janlisiecki.com/en/Jan_Lisiecki.html