Chopin 2025: Polonaise-Fantasie needs unlocking - Piotr Alexewicz
Poland's Piotr Alexewicz, a finalist in the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, has said a key is needed to the complex form of Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasie.
Alexewicz's performance closed the second day of auditions in the competition's final round on Sunday.
Each finalist performs Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat major, Op. 61 and one of the two piano concertos, either in E minor, Op. 11, or in F minor, Op. 21, accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Andrzej Boreyko.
Alexewicz told reporters that he feels the same emotions after each performance. "You reflect on the notes you played."
In Polonaise-Fantasie, he said, he was trying to find the key to it and its intricate form. "But when you analyse it, the piece takes on a greater meaning," he added.
Alexewicz also said that he chose the Piano Concerto in F minor, because "it is more youthful and more emotional than the Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11."
"I think it's also more honest in a sense." he added.
He also said that the concerto he chose was created "in a great outpouring of Chopin's feelings and emotions, while the E minor concerto is the result of formal reflections."
Asked how a recital differs from playing with an orchestra, he replied that playing with an orchestra is like chamber music, but on a larger scale.
"It's like a conversation with another person. A recital is a conversation with yourself and searching for the layers within yourself that you want to share with the audience," he said.
The final round of this year's contest, held Saturday to Monday, features, apart from Alexewicz, Kevin Chen (Canada), David Khrikuli (Georgia), Shiori Kuwahara (Japan), Tianyou Li (China), Eric Lu (United States), Tianyao Lyu (China), Vincent Ong (Malaysia), Miyu Shindo (Japan), Zitong Wang (China) and William Yang (United States).
The 19th edition of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, organised by Poland's Fryderyk Chopin Institute, runs from October 2 to October 23.
The Polish Press Agency is a media partner of the competition. (PAP)
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