Tuesday 15 September 4.00 pm

Streamed LIVE concert in an empty church

Joanna Kacperek (piano)

Chopin: Fantasy in F minor Op 49
Chopin: 4 Mazurkas Op 30
Liszt: Ballade no 2 in B Minor S 171
P. Mykietyn: Preludes 1-3 from ‘Four Preludes for Piano’ (1992)

International concert pianist, Joanna Kacperek has performed in major concert halls in Poland (Warsaw Philharmonic, Concert Studio of the Polish Radio, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, NOSPR in Katowice) and abroad (including United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Russia, the Ukraine, Canada and Japan). As a soloist, she has performed with such orchestras as the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, State Academic Symphony Orchestra in Moscow and Lviv Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra.From September 2019, Joanna has been studying at The Royal College of Music in London in the class of Norma Fisher, as the recipient of the C. Bechstein Scholarship and The Zetland Foundation Scholarship. J oanna is a graduate from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (diploma with distinction) where she studied with Ewa Poblocka. She also studied at the ‘Berlin University of Arts’ in Germany (academic year 2016/2017) where she was mentored by Professor Markus Groh as the receipt of an Erasmus scholarship. Joanna has also received the scholarships from the Minister of Culture and from the Prime Minister.Joanna Kacperek has won international piano competitions in Szafarnia (‘F.Chopin’), Pilsen (‘B.Smetana’), Paris (‘M.Magin’) as well as the National Witold Lutoslawski Music Competition in Warsaw. The achievements of the pianist include winning a special prize at the International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition in Bergen (2016), granted unanimously by the jury and the composer Christian Blom for the best performance of his work. In November 2017, togeather with violinist Roksana Kwasnikowska, Joanna won The 2 nd International Beethoven Chamber Music Competition, organized by The Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre, Internationale Beethoven Gesellschaft and The Ludwig van Beethoven Association.Alongside a growing career as a soloist, Joanna Kacperek is highly celebrated for being a multi-faceted pianist. She regularly performs with singers and instrumental players. Her duo with violinist Roksana Kwasnikowska represented Poland at the Kyoto International Music Students Festival in Japan (2015) and regularly performs recitals both in Poland and abroad.

Some beautifully musicianly playing as you would expect from a student in  the class of Norma Fisher .From the very first notes of the Chopin Fantasy  everything was allowed to sing so naturally even though hampered by a small hand that did not allow her to abandon herself completely to some of the transcendental demands that both Chopin and Liszt make.The magical pedal effect at the end of the fantasy revealed a true musician who listens so carefully and obviously feels the music deeply.It was a pity the lyrical chords in the Liszt had to be arpeggiated but the majestic ever more passionate outbursts were played with real control and sense of architectural shape.

It was in the four mazurkas op 30 by Chopin that her beautiful liquid sound and true lyricism allowed her to shape these touchingly nostalgic works and make them glitter as the jewels they truly are.The three Preludes from 1992 by Mykietyn showed off her true command of the keyboard with the almost Bartokian rhythmic impetus  of the first and the beautiful lyricism of the second that seemed to float on a cloud of magical sounds.The extreme gaity of the third with it deep bass melody and the sparse dialogue between the hands and suggestive pedal effects were played with the fearless abandon and total  conviction that had strangely been missing in the two larger romantic works.

Wonderful to think that this is just a prelude to the forthcoming Beethoven marathon where 32 pianists will perform Beethoven’s 32 Sonatas over the first weekend in October.What wonders this beautiful deconsecrated church still holds thanks to Hugh Mather and his dedicated team and the many many young musicians who have found a true home where their talent can be  appreciated and celebrated .

http://www.st-marys-perivale.org.uk/events-beethovenfestival3.shtml