Chelsea Guo, 2022 YCA International Audition Final Round
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- čas přidán 28. 02. 2023
- Program Note from Chelsea Guo:
W. A. Mozart: Sonata No. 1 K. 279
I. Allegro
Massenet: Je suis encore tout étourdie (Manon)
Pauline Viardot-Chopin: Mazurka Op. 33 No. 2 “Aime-moi”
F. Chopin: 24 Preludes Op. 28
No.15 Raindrops & No. 16
Sondheim: Ladies Who Lunch (Company)
“For as far back as my memory can reach, I have loved singing and playing the piano, and having the space to put together a program like this is so far beyond what my six-year-old self, who was enraptured upon playing her very first waltz by Chopin and re-enacted the “So long, farewell” scene from The Sound of Music every night on the stairs before bed, could have ever imagined. I am deeply thankful to all who have encouraged me to press into what I love, even if it would lead me to untread territory.
Today, a little-known sonata by Mozart-his very first, written at age 18-starts off our program and his journey into piano sonata writing with what he does best, an exciting overture! With rippling chords and sparkling gestures, no one can say that this first movement is any less exciting than the thrilling start
of Die Zauberflöte or Le Nozze di Figaro. “Je suis encore tout étourdie”, loosely translated to “I am still completely dazed” acts as our opening aria, incidentally, just as it does in the opera. In this moment, Manon, a young woman on her very first journey, is entirely overwhelmed by all the wondrous sights she encounters. She repeats over and over again “Excuse my chattering, this is my very first voyage!”, a sentiment of excitement in exploring new horizons that I resonate deeply with. One piece of music I have discovered in my journey of finding ways to combine my piano and vocal repertoire is a song by Pauline Viardot, a good friend and colleague of Chopin, who fascinatingly was herself a performing pianist and singer of the time! With Chopin’s approval, she took twelve of his mazurkas and turned them into art songs, and the one I have chosen, “Aime-moi”, is based on the luminous D Major mazurka from Op. 33. Of course, it is not an exact copy-paste, as a singer transforming a piece cannot resist adding at least a few vocal flourishes to it! From here, we move on to Chopin’s own works. I have lived with all 24 preludes for a bit of time and have found them to be, for me, truly the pinnacle of his writing. These pieces accomplish exactly what I want from music. Each miniature is a looking glass into a snapshot in time that Chopin is able to capture with sometimes just a few measures. These two in particular, the famous “Raindrop” and the thunderous B-flat Minor, show the depth and range of Chopin’s expression. With the final flash of the last chord by Chopin, we are launched into another era. Like Chopin, Sondheim is a master of human expression, and “Ladies Who Lunch” is a theatrical masterpiece. This dry, sarcastic, but very honest toast serves to conclude our time together.”
Chelsea has amazing ability both voice and piano - Winner hands down.
11:00 Wow I had no idea about Viardot! How great to learn about these vocal arrangements, and on Chopin's birthday! Loved that Mozart sonata too.
As always, your playing and singing is filled with fire, passion, thoughtfulness, life, fire, and personality. Your victory is a testament to your dedication but also God and how He has blessed you with an amazing talent!
No mate. It wasn't god. It was all the hours all the days all the years of hard work. The obsession, the total commitment to her art, to her goals, to her dreams. Then there was the support the love and guidance of those aground her, and more besides.
Is not her "victory" diminished by attributing it to a deity?
@@primus4cameron I have no doubt that this young woman worked extremely hard, practicing several hours per day, to get to where she is today. I have no doubt that her teachers, parents, and many others around her have played a great role in shaping her into who she is today. But God has definitely blessed her with all these things, on top of an amazing musical talent. All my respect goes to those who succeed in the field of performing arts; it is no small task.
唱歌的天赋远高于钢琴。但是已经非常棒了，期待歌剧舞台的表现