PrintLeopold Godowski's studies on Chopin's Études performed by Ivan Ilić
A tour celebrating the release of the CD "Godowski. 22 Chopin Studies" by Paraty Records (Paris).
17 February: Caldicot
18 February: Penarth
19 February: Chepstow
4 March: Ynyshir
9 March: Aberdovey
11 March: Hay-on-Wye
28 March: Llanelli
25 April: Listowel
27 April: Kilmallock
28 April: Birr
24 May: Navam
26 May: Holyhead
3 June: Waterville
22 June: Dublin
Leopold Godowski's (1870-1938) studies on Chopin's Études, is a set of 53 arrangements. They are renowned for their technical difficulty: critic Harold C. Schonberg called them "the most impossibly difficult things ever written for the piano". Several of the studies (the study "Ignis Fatuus" on Chopin's Étude in A minor, Op. 10, No. 2) put the original right-hand part into the left hand; several others are for the left hand alone (for example, the study on the "Revolutionary" Étude, transposed to C-sharp minor). Several of the studies even combine two études; the most well known of these, called "Badinage," combines both the G-flat (the "Black Key" Étude of Op. 10 and the "Butterfly" étude of Op. 25).
As a composer, Godowsky has been best known for his paraphrases of piano pieces by other composers, which he enhanced with ingenious contrapuntal devices and rich chromatic harmonies. His most famous work in this genre, the 53 Studies on Chopin's Études (1894–1914), in which he varies the (already challenging) original études using various methods: introducing countermelodies, transferring the technically difficult passages from the right hand to the left, transcribing an entire piece for left hand solo, or even interweaving two études, with the left hand playing one and the right hand the other. The pieces are among the most difficult piano works ever written, and only a few pianists have ventured to perform any of them. Among such pianists are Marc-André Hamelin, who recorded the entire set, garnered a number of prestigious awards, and Francesco Libetta, who performed the complete set in concert (the only pianist to do so from memory) and made a video recording of the set (live in Milan, March 2006).
Ivan Ilić, praised by the New Yorker as an "adventurous pianist" who "likes his music on the brainy side," is rapidly gaining a strong international reputation. A disciple of the legendary François-René Duchâble, Ivan started music studies at age 6 and gave his recital debut at 11. He took degrees in music and mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley before moving to Paris on a fellowship from the University. Shortly afterwards Ivan was admitted to the esteemed Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris, where he took a Premier Prix in piano performance. The City of Paris sponsored his first recording. His recent engagements include recital débuts in Boston, Washington, Dublin, Bristol, Glasgow, and Cardiff. Current season highlights include recitals at Carnegie Hall (New York), Wigmore Hall (London), the National Concert Hall (Dublin), the Belgrade Philharmonic, Glenn Gould Studio (Toronto), and the American Academy in Rome.
His UK tour features piano works celebrating the release of the CD "Godowski. 22 Chopin Studies" by Paraty Records (Paris).