Amazing birthday party by ensemble of dreams

Geniuses competition

By Cezary Owerkowicz

We were very lucky, as at the last moment before the whole world was put under home arrest -- all doors closed, all travels and parties cancelled; I was invited to a very special birthday party along with my wife. We are somehow associated with the respectable celebrator. The venue of the celebration is very prestigious -- the big Concert Hall of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw with a capacity of 1,000 guests, two balconies and threefloor foyer.

When we came to the foyer, they were already parading with gentle smiles -- elegant couples: gentlemen in black tailcoats or coats, ladies in white or creamy long dresses, hats, and -- a bit strange -- with umbrellas. They were greeting arriving guests with charming smiles. On the stairs, other ladies in long red dresses offered chocolates to the guests. At the buffet, bartenders offered water, juices and other drinks. On the first floor (prestigious), there was a giant marzipan cake. (Sorry for this personal remark: in many, more or less official, parties I tried to avoid tasting such official cakes -- mostly not digestible! However, my wife likes sweets and she urged me to try it. I was wrong, the cake was really delicious!)

The giant cake was decorated with black and white piano keys. No wonder; it was the birthday party of one of the greatest pianists -- Frederic Chopin, a celebration of his 210th birthday anniversary. Of course, the celebrator was not present. He appeared soon on the stage of the National Philharmonic, but in a spiritual way; with his music. The phenomenal Archduke Vienna Trio presented Chopin Piano Trio in G which he composed in his young years; as well as Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G and Beethoven Piano Trio ‘Archduke’. NB: The name of the Trio was derived from both the Beethoven masterpiece and imperial Vienna.

Owerkowicz

Performances

It was according to the best old pattern -- an exclusive birthday party with performances by musicians. As in the old days, the musician was really worthy of the Dignified Jubilee and his distinguished guests.

At the piano was Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the 14th International Van Cliburn Piano Competition in 2013 (among others) -- a phenomenal, young Ukrainian pianist, touring and recording in various countries; from US and Canada to Japan. He was a top soloist in the last three editions of the ‘Chopin and His Europe’ Festival. The charming leader of the ensemble and perfect concertmaster is Alena Baeva -- born in Kirghizia, educated at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory (among others by Mstislav Roztropovich) and US, in the Academy of Seiji Ozawa. She won several international violin competitions. In the renowned H. Wieniawski Competition in Pozna , she was awarded 9 (nine!) prizes in one year using Stradivari’s violin, the masterpiece made in 1723. In her rapidly growing career, she became a soloist of the best orchestras in UK (St. Martin Academy, London Philharmonic), Russia, Japan (NHK Symphony), Poland (Sinfonia Varsovia) and France. On the cello was Alexander Rudin -- one of the best Russian cellists (it means a lot, reminding Roztropovich), ensembles leader, professor and director of chamber music festivals.

Such ‘ensembles of the dreams’ began their performance with Mozart, Chopin’s musical idol. The Trio started the concert by playing a quartet -- Piano Quartet in G minor KV 478, composed by Mozart in 1785. The idea of piano-quartet was quite unusual at the time. However, there was a time that the twilight of harpsichord began. It was also the beginning of the rising fame and glory of piano-forte, a new instrument appeared. Renowned Viennese editor Franz Anton Hoffmeister, who is a bit extravagant and risky, commissioned from Mozart three of his compositions for the NEW pianoforte and string trio. Moreover, he paid the fee in advance. It was convincing.

That time, sublimation for connoisseurs was string music, with aristocratic string quartet on top. Piano-forte, let us write just piano, was an instrument for amateurs; and let us also use modern description -- middle class, less sublime. Sonatas for violin and piano or piano trios were on the shelves below the strict string repertoire. As a businessman, Hoffmeister failed since the first Mozart Piano Quartet was sold poorly like soybean. Nevertheless, the editor behaved honorably. He released the composer from his promise without asking for a refund. Mozart did the opposite: he enjoyed the new sounds. Nine months later, he wrote his second Piano Quartet in E flat (and edited it with another editor). NB: To perform the Mozart Quartet mentioned above, Trio invited an excellent Polish viol player -- Piotr Szumiel -- educated in Warsaw Chopin Academy but settled in Vienna and Germany.

During the Chopin era piano became the ruler of musical stage and Chopin became the symbol of piano music. Almost all of his outputs were composed for piano. Other rare compositions like songs and cello or flute works are with essential piano accompaniment. He started to compose his Piano Trio in G minor op. 8 when he was eighteen and studying at the Warsaw Conservatory. It took him one and half year to complete the piece. His work was edited five years later, in 1833. Even the enthusiastic critic, Robert Schumann, wrote about the work of the ‘young talent’. The composer dedicated his Trio to Prince Anton Radziwill. The aristocrat did not enjoy the gift for a long time, because he died a year later.

Hereditary

Prince Antoni Radziwill (17751833), hereditary Duke-Governor of the Duchy of Poznan and Reichfurts of Holy Roman Empire, played the guitar and cello. Among his concert guests were Niccolo Paganini, Johann W. Goethe (supported Prince’s efforts to write music to his ‘Faust’), Ludwig van Beethoven (dedicated him Overture Op. 155) and, of course, Frederic Chopin. Chopin, who composed and dedicated to him the Introduction and Polonaise Op.3 for cello and piano. The Prince was also the mercenary of Polish theaters and opera performances but his wife established the first public school for girls. NB: Do you know that the younger sister of the First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Princess Lee Radziwill, was the wife of the successor of the Prince?

‘Finis coronat opus’ – ‘The end crowns the work’. After the amazing cakes and sweets from bakers, Mozart and Chopin came, in time for ‘the main dish’. Year 2020 is also Beethoven Year because of his 250th anniversary. With Chopin’s permission, I hoped we also celebrated this occasion that evening. At the end, Archduke Trio performed his title hit, ‘Archduke Trio’ in B Op. 97 by Master from… Here there is a dilemma: he was a German, born in Bonn but spent most of his life in Vienna. Once again this year, two versions would battle for priority: Master from Bonn with Master from Vienna. However, he is The Great Genius and his Trio is a perfect evidence of this opinion.

Why ‘Archduke’ Piece is dedicated to Archduke Rudolf, a talented amateur pianist and youngest of the twelve children of Emperor Leopold 2nd? Beethoven was especially indebted to the Archduke, because he and his friends Prince F. M. Lobkovitz and Prince F. J. Kinsky -- also warm lovers of music -- established a generous lifetime salary for the composer. In the same period, Beethoven dedicated to him compositions such as 4th and 5th (Emperor) Piano Concertos, Sonata ‘Les Adieux’ and 11th Quartet.

The following year, Beethoven composed excellent music to ‘Egmont’ by J. W. Goethe. They met in the health resort of Cieplice (that time Bad Warmbrunn). Beethoven described one of their joint adventures: Royals would appoint professors and counselors, showered with titles and decorations, but they cannot appoint great people, spirits being above of dung world… when two great people like me and Goethe are together, they have to feel our greatness. Yesterday, during the walk, we met the whole Emperor Family.

Edge

Goethe stood at the edge of the road…I entered with the coming group. Princes and courtiers formed line for me. Rudolf bowed with his hat. The Empress greeted me first. It means they recognize me. To my amusement, I noticed how the procession passes before Goethe. He stood on the hedge, bowing with hat in his hand. Then, I confused his head!

I’d suggest that the report is probably colored. But Beethoven was a very recalcitrant genius. NB: Chopin had ambivalent feeling for Beethoven. Franz Liszt wrote: ‘Despite deep admiration, he percept his works as too much ‘athletic’, impetuosity too much impulsive, passion to adjoin with cataclysm…’ Like between geniuses…

However, almost symphonic ‘Archduke Trio’ is recognized as the best piano-trio in the history of that form, overcoming everything that was composed by even Haydn, Mozart, and later, by Romantic composers of both generations.

The double birthday party was unforgettable, more than the coming days that brought us musical, social, even total ‘fasting’ for the coming days, weeks… Enough!

PS. Dear Readers, these days many of us used to celebrate Easter. Some Christians celebrate it on April 12-13, Orthodox – April 19-20. End of fasting, beginning of hope for new life. I wish you warmly, everybody, regardless of faith or rite -- resurrection of our normal life!

Editor’s Note:

Cezary Owerkowicz is the chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Philharmonia and talented pianist. He regularly organises concerts by wellknown musicians for the benefit of music lovers and to widen the knowledge of music in Kuwait. His email address is: cowerkowicz @ yahoo.com and cowerkowicz@ hotmail.com