JEAN MULLER CHOPIN RECITALPIANO - loegwien.at · Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt. ... Op. 52 10’51 ... With this Chopin recital, Jean Muller - whom we

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CHOPIN RECITALJEAN MULLER

PIANO

© Marlene Soares

2013 WORLD TOUR

FLASH FOR VIDEOCLIP

CHOPIN RECITAL - 2013 WORLD TOUR

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Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

CONTENTS

The Pianist - Jean Muller............................................................................................... 3The CD - Chopin Recital ............................................................................................... 4The CD - Reviews ......................................................................................................... 5 The Tour - Halls and Dates ........................................................................................... 6


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Jean Muller is a pianist with extraordinary artistic genuineness. The specialized press underlines the astonishing mixture of authenticity and originality, which often gives the impression that the composer himself is at the piano.

Due to his intellectual, technical and emotional mastery Jean Muller is performing a wide range of repertoire, while maintaining a focus on Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt, his favorite composers. He has made numerous recordings - including the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas - which received exceptional acclaim by the critics. Jean Muller has won many awards, among them the 1st prize of the prestigious Concours Poulenc in France.

H i s CDs , pub l i shed by JCH-P roduct ions , Tu r t le Records , Po lymnie , Be l la Mus ica and Fondamenta Productions, have been acclaimed by the musical press, receiving the Excellentia and Supersonic awards from Pizzicato magazine, Coup de Coeur from Piano Magazine, 4 étoiles from Classica, 4 Diapasons, the Arte CD Selection and Gramophone’s Critic’s Choice.

He has been giving celebrated recitals during several state visits and had the honor to be made Chevalier de l'Ordre de Mérite Civil et Militaire d'Adolphe de Nassau by H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg in 2007.

Jean Muller currently promotes his new CD "Chopin Recital" released by the label Fondamenta. He is undertaking a worldwide tour to present “Chopin Recital” in 2013.

His next major discographic project is to record and film the Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt.

More information:

www.jeanmuller.luwww.musicandmore.luwww.fondamenta.fr

The Pianist

Jean Muller receiving the insignia of the “Chevalier de l’Ordre de Mérite Civil et Militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau” by H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

JEAN MULLER

"Heard here in mostly familiar Chopin, Muller m a k e s e v e r y t h i n g enthrallingly fresh and unfamiliar. Indeed, you seem to be hearing the Four Ballades for the First time, such is the pianist's recreative urgency."

Bryce MorrisonGRAMOPHONE2012/04


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Preamble Chopin’s music has always been very i m p o r t a n t t o J e a n M u l l e r, a Luxembourgish pianist of French - German - Polish origins. As a seven-year-old, Jean discovered Chopin’s music when he heard his father play the study in thirds. Fascinated by the chromatic sonorities of this work, Jean managed to learn it within a few months thanks to his diligent work. Ever since, his love for Chopin’s music has been increasing. Remy Franck, chief editor of the Pizzicato magazine and director of the former Midem Classics' jury, said about Jean Muller's first Chopin recording (Turtle Records, 2005): "Muller has authority. Muller is an authority." ("Excellentia"- CD of the month award of Pizzicato). Having learnt the 4 ballads during his studies in Munich, it is only after a long artistic journey that Jean Muller resolved himself to record these

works, which are among the deepest of the composer on CD.

Ballades, Mazurkas, Waltzes...

BALLADES. The ballade, whose origins go back to twelfth century in Provence, was originally a song to which people would dance. From the thirteenth century onwards, the genre forked off in two different directions, literary and musical. Chopin was the first composer to use the ballade genre for a sole instrument; other composers were later to adopt this approach. It is noteworthy that all the elements that constitute the original ballade are to be found in Chopin’s four compositions: the lyrical and epic aspects and also the dance-like character. Composed from 1830 to 1843, each ballade develops a unique form that is structurally coherent and wonderful ly well

adapted to its emotional content. This approach to composit ion p refigures the wr i t i ng o f the composers of the twentieth century.

MAZURKAS. If we liken Chopin’s ballades to his novels, the mazurkas might constitute his private diaries. They served as experimental fields for innumerable harmonic audacities and explore the subtlest moods of the soul with exquisite sensitivity. Just as in the waltzes, the dance-like aspect is no more than figure of style, for these works have a truly universal reach. The Mazurkas contain the essence of the nostalgia that haunted Chopin throughout his creative life.

WALTZES. Chopin’s Waltzes with their intimate nature, sensitivity and fantasy, are all seductive, whether they take the form of short poems or sweeping musical frescoes.

CHOPIN RECITALThe CD

Program

Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 9’26

Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38 6’51

Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47 7’15

Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 10’51

Mazurka No. 4 in A minor, Op. 17 4’48

Mazurka No. 1 in C major, Op. 68 1’50

Mazurka No. 4 in A minor, Op. 67 3’06

Waltz No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 64 1’55

Waltz No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 69 4’01

Largo in E-flat major, Op. posth. 2’02

Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44 10’43


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REVIEWSThe CD

“Heard here in mostly familiar Chopin, Muller m a k e s e v e r y t h i n g enthrallingly fresh and unfamiliar. Indeed, you seem you be hearing the Four Ballades for the first time, such is the pianist’s r e c r e a t i v e u rg e n c y. Backed by a savage technical voltage, he lifts you far above studio c o n d i t i o n s o r t h e p o l i s h e d i f p o l i t e l y impersonal expertise too f a m i l i a r f r o m t h e competition circuit. Few pianists of any age or nationality have recreated the storming codas of the First and Fourth Ballades with such brilliant fury. In short, here is a pianist who can pin you back by the ears with heroic strength and propulsion but who is no less subtle and insinuating when Chopin is lost in reverie and introspection. Can any lover of Chopin’s music – or of anyone else’s – afford to be without this disc?"

GRAMOPHONE “Critic’s Choice” APRIL 2012

"For Jean Muller it is essential to enter into C h o p i n ’s w o r l d a s deeply as possible. In spite of the clearly, structured playing, one has the impression to hear these works for the fi r s t t i m e . H i s interpretation is infused with genuine freshness and open-mindedness, avoiding unnecessary p a t h o s w h i l e s t i l l respecting the lyricism of these pieces. It is extremely rare to hear such a dramatic and multifaceted version of Chopin’s ballads.”

DeutschlandRadio KulturCD of the weekAPRIL 2012

" A v e r y b e a u t i f u l Chopin recording."

Pizzicato DECEMBER 2011

"A recording unveiling a rare presence. As if C h o p i n h i m s e l f inhabited him, Jean Mul ler g ives us an eminent l y romant ic interpretation, full of emot ion where the d a r k e s t r e s t r a i n t alternates with the most v i r t u o s o e c s t a s y . R e m a r k a b l e p i a n o playing captured with r e m a r k a b l e s o n i c quality."

L'Education Musicale DECEMBER 2011

"What more could you ask, except perfection? With this Chopin recital, Jean Muller - whom we got acquainted through masterful performances of Beethoven, Liszt or Bach - proves he will not stop astonishing us by the close intimacy w i t h h i s f a v o u r i t e c o m p o s e r s . F u r t h e r m o r e t h e recording quality of this recital is absolutely state of the art."

O N - T o p A u d i o MagazineDECEMBER 2011

"We appreciate the vigorousness of the touch (what a noble vehemence in the F-s h a r p m i n o r Polonaise!), the quality of articulation and the clarity of the musical discourse."

Concertonet DECEMBER 2011

“The pianist uses his exceptional virtuosity to serve an interpretation of rare intensity. Absolutely outstanding!"

QobuzAPRIL 2012

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Recorded at the Luxemburg Conservatory on 25-27 May 2010

Recording Engineer & Mastering: Nicolas ThelliezPiano: Steinway DPiano Technician: Arthur Elsen, Pianos ElsenPhotos: Håkan Strand (cover), Diego Ruiz (portrait)Artwork: Pilvax StudioTextes: Jean Muller and Natalia Tchourikova Translation: Carmella Abramowitz Moreau

2010 – Fondamenta – HD Music online – www.fondamenta.fr

Many thanks to:

Frédéric D’Oria-Nicolas, Arthur Elsen, Fernand Jung, Natalia Tchourikova, Nicolas Thelliez, Pierre Kremer, Håkan Strand, Jean Weidert and all the sta" of the Luxemburg Conservatory.

This CD was recorded with the support of the Weidert Group, Luxemburg.

CD-CHOPIN.indd Spread 1 of 10 - Pages(18, 1)CD-CHOPIN.indd Spread 1 of 10 - Pages(18, 1) 12/15/10 9:05 PM12/15/10 9:05 PM


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HALLS & DATES*HALLS & DATES*HALLS & DATES*HALLS & DATES*

NEW YORK

Carnegie HallWeill Recital Hall

18.1.2013

LONDON

Kings PlaceHall 1

t.b.c. between 20.1.-20.3.2013

PARIS

Salle Cortot

t.b.c. between 20.1.-20.3.2013

FRANKFURT

Alte OperMozart Saal

17.3.2013

BERLIN

KonzerthausKleiner Saal

t.b.c. between 20.1.-20.3.2013

VIENNA

MusikvereinBrahms Saal

23.3.2013

"Few pianists of any age or nationality have recreated the storming codas of the First and Fourth Ballades with such brilliant fury."

Bryce Morrison Critic’s ChoiceGramophone 2012/04

Following the tremendous success of his new CD „Chopin Recital“ in the international press, Jean Mul le r i s prepar ing a worldwide concert tour.

This tour, which will take place in some of the most prestigious venues around the globe including the Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein in Vienna, is scheduled for the first half of 2013.

In these highly anticipated recitals Mr Muller will play exclusively the programme of “Chopin Recital” as presented on the CD.

We are very proud to announce that we have gained the support of the Luxembourgish Culture Ministry as well as the L u x e m b o u r g M u s i c E x p o r t B u r e a u - music:LX.

The TourHalls & Dates

*Cities and Halls which are not confirmed are subject to change


NEW YORK


18.1.2013

LONDON

Kings PlaceHall 1

t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)

PARIS

Salle Cortot

t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)

FRANKFURT


17.3.2013

BERLIN


t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)

VIENNA


23.3.2013

LUXEMBOURG

PhilharmonieSMC

25.2.2013

AMSTERDAM

ConcertgebouwKleine Zaal

t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)


NEW YORK


18.1.2013

PARIS

Salle Cortot

15.2.2013 t.b.c.

LONDON

Kings PlaceHall 1

19.2.2013

LUXEMBOURG

PhilharmonieSMC

25.2.2013

FRANKFURT


17.3.2013

VIENNA


23.3.2013

BERLIN


t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)

AMSTERDAM

ConcertgebouwKleine Zaal

t.b.c. (20.1.-20.3.2013)

Documents

JEAN MULLER CHOPIN RECITALPIANO - loegwien.at · Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt. ... Op. 52 10’51 ... With this Chopin recital, Jean Muller - whom we