Chopin's 24 Preludes, Op. 28, composed between 1836 and 1839, are stand-alone pieces in every available key, unlike Bach's preludes which precede fugues.
Composer Biography
Chopin's Polish songs were published posthumously as his Op. 74 in 1859, with 'Moja pieszczotka' ('My Darling') dating from 1837.
Performer Biography
Chelsea Guo, the performer on this album, is a top prize-winner in the 2020 National Chopin Piano Competition and is pursuing a Bachelors of Music in piano at The Juilliard School.
Critical Reception
Robert Schumann, a contemporary composer and critic, initially dismissed Chopin's Preludes as 'sketches' and 'wild confusions,' though these traits are now seen as innovative.
Composition History
Chopin's Études Op. 10, considered by many to be his first masterpiece, were completed in Paris in 1832 and dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin believed the piano was the perfect instrument, capable of achieving everything that could be conveyed by one hundred voices on an opera stage.
Interpretation
The vocal tracks on this album are both performed and self-accompanied by Chelsea Guo, and were recorded simultaneously.
