Brian Ganz Concert: Chopin—The Growth of Genius

Are you looking for a perfect artistic experience that will broaden the minds of the entire family, without breaking the bank? Look no further than an exciting opportunity coming on Saturday, February the 1st.

Internationally acclaimed pianist, local resident, and passionate devotee of Frédéric Chopin Brian Ganz continues his journey, now in its 10th year, through the entire catalog of the beloved composer’s works with a National Philharmonic concert, Chopin: The Growth of Genius at The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda on the 1st at 8pm, and tickets for kids from ages 7 to 17 are free!

Ganz will dedicate the entire concert to what he calls “musical gardening”, in which he explores the seeds of Chopin’s genius, exampled by his early mazurkas, polonaises, waltzes, and marches, and follows them with later works of the genres considered to be masterpieces, showing Chopin’s genius in full bloom. As part of the performance, he briefly explains, in terms everyone can understand, exactly what to look for and how to recognize the beauty in earlier pieces. He then shows the expansion and emotional complexity of the later ones. The combination of Ganz’s passionate performance on the piano, and the way he breaks down the 4th wall in such an open-hearted, down-to-earth way, allows for deep engagement between himself and audience members of every age, regardless of whether they are Chopin experts, or are completely newbies to classical music.

Ganz spoke about what in his performance is of particular value to younger audience members in our one-on-one interview. “It’s so emotionally engaging. It’s the kind of music that really grabs a young mind, partly because of its immediate emotional impact. With Chopin, usually the emotion is present quickly, and the flavor is tasty quickly. It’s kind of like really delicious food that you’re astonished to find out is also nutritious.” As both a performer and a member of the teaching faculty at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the Peabody Conservatory, Ganz has had the time and experience to consider in what way kids engaging with classical music can expand their understanding of the world. He further explains, “These days, I think kids are so overstimulated. Learning to still our minds is so important. There are too many things clamoring for everyone’s attention. With cell phones, computers, headphones you can walk with, there’s such a temptation to leap from one source of instant gratification to another. It might seem like a lot to be asked to quiet the mind, and go deeply into an attentive listening experience where you will be carried on a journey, one that may lead you into the forest without any breadcrumbs apparent to lead you out. Still, if you can trust, and get absorbed, and open your heart, and listen to this beauty and make sense of it, even as it’s challenging and complex, it forces you to quiet everything else that’s usually in a long line for your attention. I think that’s enormously valuable for kids. I would encourage parents to come, not just for the sheer pleasure of it, but for the value of having the opportunity to have children being profoundly attentive, for a couple of hours. My promise to them is that I will engage their kids in a fascinating and compelling journey during those two hours.”

Ganz has a very personal perspective on being moved by the genius of Chopin from an early age. He discovered a deep affinity for the music of Frédéric Chopin at age 9, when he heard the composer’s mazurkas. Mazurkas are based on Polish folk dances, but the composer was able to transform them into what became known as a “Chopin genre”. The pianist explains it this way, “They really got under my skin in a very profound way. I felt it was revealing the language of my very soul. I can say from an objective perspective that Bach and Beethoven might be more well-rounded composers, but no one’s language speaks to my soul the way that Chopin does, and in no other genre does he speak so profoundly as he does in his mazurkas.”

This love of Chopin’s music translate to palpable joy, and a fun that he radiates from the stage. This is something I mentioned to him, having seen him play live. I asked him where that comes from. Answers Ganz, “It’s partly the joy of telling a really wonderful story. I love telling stories. Physically, it’s fun to do something that I’ve worked hard at for thousands of hours. It’s enormously fun to find new colors and nuances. Also, there’s always a synergistic give and take with an audience . I am discovering things I didn’t even know were there, because of this marvelous energy that I’m receiving, and, of course, I’m trying to give that back. It becomes this wonderful circle.”

What about the genius part of the equation? What does it mean, specific to Chopin, to be a genius? After some consideration, the pianist spoke to that. “I’d paraphrase something I remember the American composer, Lucas Foss, said. ‘Genius is hearing something that, in the moment, is fresh enough to surprise you, but on reflection feels inevitable’.” Ganz enthuses, “One aspect of his genius that I delight in, and what I find so ingenious about Chopin, is he often writes in a way that is surprisingly simple and catchy, but manages also to find within, something very substantive that you can listen to over and over, and hear more and more. One of the ways I discovered that, is in looking at some of his early works that are simple, and yet are not as catchy or as rich. It’s a little like sugar, verses protein. How did he do that? If you could explain it, it wouldn’t be genius. What i find so astonishing is how someone takes only 12 notes, and with them they can take something relatively simple, and give it so much substance and meaning. Another aspect is a kind of harmonic language that is astoundingly sophisticated. He makes a harmonic progression sound like a gorgeous work of color, like a beautiful painting. You hear these connections and relationships harmonically that speak volumes toward the story he’s trying to tell. That harmonic richness, and sometimes strangeness, is, for me, endlessly gratifying, delicious, beautiful, and fascinating. He is able to marry fascination with beauty and great storytelling. These are some aspects of his genius that I try to bring to my playing, highlighting a really gorgeous harmonic invention, or to highlight what is strange, which I find wonderful.”

So, does Ganz’s love of the composer, and his commitment to play his entire catalog, effect the quality of his playing in a significant way? I had the opportunity to hear and see him perform Chopin’s Ballade No.1 in G minor in person. The piece is his, and, indeed, Chopin’s own favorite composition. It confirmed what our conversation had suggested. He must be seen live. He brings all his training, passion, and authentic desire to express the genius of Chopin, to bear. Truly, anyone who loves music, is interested in expanding their understanding of how artists find their way to their best work, or enjoys seeing live performances, would be greatly rewarded by seeing Chopin: The Growth of Genius.

For more information about Fredrick Chopin, Brian Ganz recommends Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times by Alan Walker..(https://www.scrawlbooks.com/book/9781250234827)

Click here for tickets Brian Ganz’s 10th Anniversary of his “Extreme Chopin” Quest, Chopin: The Growth of Genius

(https://www.strathmore.org/events-and-tickets/np-brian-ganz-chopin-genius)