The Breath of Frederic Chopin

Producer’s Note

This unique album by pianist Yoahn Kwon was designed to capture Chopin’s inspiration and sound.

Piano, in the 19th century, is an essential instrument for both composers and pianists. Developing mechanism with the expansion of the range and different acoustics with new effects, piano as the single device was able to realize rich sounds like orchestra sound and delicate expression, which based on composers’ ideas and feelings. As a composer and pianist, Chopin composed the whole of his works with piano, and it shows how much he was fell in love with this fantastic instrument. Chopin’s sad and ailing life made the performer play his music in a feminine, more fragile, and tenderer way, not from the variety of musical expressions and ideas that he sought. While his music is arising individual freedom of emotional boundary, those often distorted and exaggerated. However, Chopin’s music must be beautiful under the strict musical structures because he sought to follow the classical tradition of J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, and L. v. Beethoven. How ironic?

While living in the Romantic era, Chopin did not lean on literature. That means he focused on one single note which has independent resonance and reverb, and on the harmony and musical structure which each notation makes. Therefore, his music is more beautiful when it is played as is and straightforward without any additional exaggerated emotion.

A Note from the pianist

In 1843, Heine, the romantic poet, was nostalgic about Chopin’s piano playing after the flourish of virtuoso pianists performing with passionate mannerism. 

Franz Liszt started to play in front of large audiences in Opera houses, and therefore piano playing has become more extroverted. 

Piano manufacturers were also developing an innovative mechanism which helps pianists to play faster and louder to serve a large crowd. Despite pianists playing recitals in big Opera houses at the time, Chopin only preferred playing in small salons. Listeners who had chance to hear Chopin’s salon concert felt unforgettable sensitivity and precious individual sound Chopin produced on the Pleyel piano. 

With Steinway’s patents and its contribution of development to the piano mechanism, pianists can produce sound much easier and play better technically. 

Audioguy Studio in Seoul with the Bösendorfer 225 indeed was the ideal place to recreate Chopin’s salon atmosphere.