Ignacy Jan Paderewski, a statesman and fervent patriot, used Chopin's music in his concert tours to revive national awareness and support Poles fighting for freedom, and to advocate for Poland's independence to foreign audiences.
Composer Biography
Chopin completed his aphoristic Preludes Op. 28 in Majorca, where he experienced both happiness and enchantment, as well as suffering and 'darkest premonitions'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ignacy Jan Paderewski, an outstanding Chopin interpreter and promoter, believed Chopin's art was a 'phenomenon bordering on a miracle' and a precious treasure of European culture.
Compositional Technique
The Lento con gran espressione in C sharp minor, also known as Nocturne in C sharp minor Op. posth., unusually for Chopin, includes self-quotations from his Concerto in F minor and the song 'Maiden's Wish'.
Performer Biography
Paweł Wakarecy, the pianist on this album, was the only Polish finalist in the 16th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, where he received a special award.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Polonaise in F sharp minor Op. 44 (1841) is unusual for a polonaise, combining elements of both the polonaise and the mazurka, merging the culture of the landed gentry with a folk idiom.
Cultural Impact
Chopin's Polonaise in A major Op. 40 (1838) is one of his best-known compositions and has been elevated to the rank of a national symbol.
