The Chopin Octoberfest at St Mary’s Perivale
What a wonder the start of a three day Chopin festival with some of the finest pianists imaginable.
St Mary’s has never been so full and on a bleak wintery day there was no stopping a public just longing to hear three mini Chopin recitals. There must be hundreds listening in on line too as I was and what a joy it was to hear not only the better known works of Chopin but also some of the rarities too.
On hearing Chopin himself playing in the Paris salons of the day the variations on La ci darem la Mano op 2 Schumann announced the arrival of a star in their midst with ‘Hats off gentlemen a genius’ and that was only one of his early showpieces. And a show piece it was tonight with a brilliant performance by Menyang Pan. Playing not only with brilliance and breathtaking jeux perlé there was the aristocratic style that she gave to all she played. Some of Chopin’s waltzes were played with such character and colour that was quite breathtaking in its refined beauty and charm.
