19 February, 2009

The Foundation for Iberian Music presents a discussion led by James Mello and Antoni Pizà and on Chopin’s soujoun on the island of Majorca.

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) spent most of his adult life in Paris, in exile from his beloved native Poland, which was then under Russian control. Among the many love relationships that formed an important part of the composer’s life, the longest and best known was his nine-year liaison with the writer George Sand (pseudonym of Aurore Dupin, Baroness Dudevant). During their tumultuous love affair, she was witness to the composition of several masterpieces of Chopin’s maturity, including the 24 Preludes, opus 28. These musical jewels were composed or completed during a disastrous three-month stay in Majorca, where George Sand had brought Chopin in the hope that he would recover from tuberculosis during the winter of 1838-39. In this program, the lovers’ letters, diaries, and reminiscences will be interwoven with a performance of the composer’s complete 24 Preludes, offering an intimate look into the inner dramas of two artists in physical and emotional exile.

SEMINAR Intimate Exiles: Chopin and George Sand in Majorca
Thu Feb 19 5:30 – 7:30 pm
CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Ave., Skylight Room, 9th floor
Other events in the “Artists in Exile” series
Wed Feb 25 8:00 pm 7:00 pm pre-concert lecture
Thu Feb 26 8:00 pm 7:00 pm pre-concert lecture
The Liederkranz Foundation
6 East 87th Street

For more information visit:

https://romanticcentury.org/current.html