Free Pro-D Workshop: Chopin Piano

Monday, October 28th
10am – 12pm

The Myth about Chopin’s “Romantic” Style
Baroque and Classical Influence and Foundations of Style

In his presentation, Henri-Paul Sicsic will shed some light on Chopin’s style and discuss rhythmic balance and the element of rubato taken into context. He will stress the importance of always perceiving and experiencing rubato in the larger context of musical statements rather than as an isolated embellishment of the melodic line and design.

In practice, such approach was demonstrated in the composer’s playing style and advocated through his teaching. Chopin taught extensively in the last four years of his short life. There are invaluable testimonials of lessons at the piano where Chopin demonstrated his approach to rubato and style. A simpler and balanced use of rhythm and a consistent sense of time not always found in our current interpretations will reveal a style based on the composer’s intentions and on his own playing. The lingering misunderstanding which we often experience still today in interpretations of Chopin does not represent the composer’s style as he demonstrated it, taught it and lived it.

In order to attempt to illustrate this, specific examples will be given at the piano. The role of the accompaniment, frequently taken by the left hand, will be illustrated as the “Kapellmeister,” the foundation of phrasing and of the rhythmic life of Chopin’s music, both in “salon” type works such as Nocturnes and Waltzes and in compositions and movements written in traditional Polish dance style such as in the finales of the Concertos.

The free seminar will be held in the Rose Gellert Hall on Monday, October 28 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

About Henri-Paul Sicsic

A concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, pianist Henri-Paul Sicsic has appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Pasadena Philharmonic, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, among others. His performances have been aired in New York City on WQXR radio, on the National French program “France Musique” in other major centers in the U.S. and on the C.B.C. in Canada.

Raised in France in a teacher-to-student lineage of Chopin (Chopin-Descombes-Cortot-Audibert-Sicsic) and of French composers of the turn of the century, Henri-Paul Sicsic communicates his passion for music through performance and teaching, to audiences and to the young generation of musicians. His teachers include Juliette Audibert-Lambert (student of Cortot and Fauré), Pierre Sancan (Grand Prix de Rome of composition), and pianist and master teacher John Perry.

Sicsic taught at Rice University as the associate of John Perry, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and at the University of Toronto. At the Conservatoire de Nice, France, Sicsic was awarded a first prize with congratulations of the jury in piano, a first prize in chamber music, and a conducting diploma. As a pianist, he also received a first prize at the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice Competition and top prize at the Royaume de la Musique National Radio Competition in France.

Now back in Vancouver, Sicsic is happy to make his contribution to teaching and performing in the province’s wonderful music community. he is a proponent of the Alexander Technique and studies Tai Chi Chuan. He enjoys French cuisine, researching a healthy approach to nutrition and healing and is a marathon runner.

Henri-Paul Sicsic’s CD of Schumann’s Kreisleriana and Fantasy Op. 17 was highly praised. A more recent CD release of a live solo recital in Paris received high acclaim. The performance was a collaboration with celebrated French artist Robert Combas, whose large-scale paintings were inspired by the recital program featuring works by Chopin, Ravel and Albeniz along with a work by Canadian composer Alexina Louie

Henri-Paul Sicsic grew to become an inspired pedagogue with a tremendous following. His strong commitment to teaching and ability to enrich and inspire young talents is legendary. His students have distinguished themselves at the national and international levels, earning prestigious Fulbright and Canada Council grants, winning top prizes and awards at major competitions, teaching at institutions of higher education and at summer music festivals.

As a result of his pedagogical research, dedication and accomplishments, Sicsic became the first member of the music performance faculty at the University of British Columbia to be awarded the Killam Teaching Prize, one of Canada’s highest academic honours.

Engagements include performances and masterclasses in France (Paris, Nice) Spain (Burgos), Finland (Helsinki), Israel (Tel Aviv University, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance), the U.S. (Houston, Seattle, New York) and Canada. Recording projects include the Piano Works of Maurice Ravel and an on-going project of Robert Schumann’s major Piano compositions.