Schedule:

Piano Spectacular

Chelsea Wang – Piano

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918) – Estampes

I. Pagodes
II. La soirées fans Grenade
III. Jardins sous la pluie

Frédéric Chopin (1810 – 1849) – Ballade no. 4, F minor
Intermission

Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937) – Valse Nobles et Sentimentales

I. Modéré – très franc
II. Assez lent – avec une expression intense
III. Modéré
IV. Assez animé
V. Presque lent – dans un sentiment intime
VI. Vif
VII. Moins vif
VIII. Épilogue: lent
Nikolai Kapustin (1937 – 2020) – Variations, op. 41
 
Claude Debussy – Estampes (1903)

Debussy’s Estampes captures three vivid scenes:
- Pagodes evokes the shimmer of gamelan-inspired architecture
- La soirée dans Grenade paints an exotic evening in Granada
- Jardins sous la pluie bursts with rain-drenched energy

This early exploration of impressionism uses layered textures and pentatonic scales, showcasing Debussy’s vivid color palette.

Frédéric Chopin – Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 (1842–43)

Chopin’s final ballade is his most profound: a sweeping narrative full of dramatic contrasts—from bold, rhythmic figures to serene lyricism. The work is both technically challenging and deeply emotional—rumored to be inspired by Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz’s “Konrad Wallenrod.” Expect a journey of tension, resignation, and hope.

Maurice Ravel – Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (1911)

Originally a piano suite of eight waltzes, Ravel later orchestrated this as ballet music. Each movement contrasts styles—formal, intimate, lively—and the final Epilogue is somber and introspective, offering a graceful farewell.

Nikolai Kapustin – Variations, Op. 41 (1973)

Kapustin blends classical form with jazz harmony and swing. This set of virtuosic variations demands brilliance and rhythm from the performer—making it a modern showcase of jazz-inflected piano flair.

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