CENTERblog

Jeffrey Siegel - Keyboard Conversations: Chopin for Lovers
by Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University

Keyboard Conversations. You might be wondering, as Jeffrey Siegel says, “Why isn’t there a keyboard on the stage who is doing the talking?” That’s because the conversation happens between many participants, the musician, the audience, and of course, the instrument. Another crucial member of the conversation (present in spirit) is the person who wrote the music, in this case Frederic Chopin was the man of the hour.

2010 celebrates the 200th birthday of Chopin. Although he died at 39 from pulmonary tuberculosis, his music and legacy live on through performances like this. To commemorate the event, an enormous cake in the shape of a grand piano was in the lobby for patrons to enjoy with their eyes and mouths. Thank you Alaska Cake Studio, and thank you Chopin.

When asked, “What inspired you to theme the night around women in Chopin’s life?” Siegel replied, “While researching for this, it just came together. Chopin’s love life is present in many of his works.” Some of them were even dedicated to more than one woman. In the end, “his greatest love was for Poland, his native country, not a woman,” says Siegel.

In some ways, the piano is all Chopin could muster in terms of communicating with his lovers and crushes. Chopin said, “I sing to my piano in tones what I wish I could say...” It’s a bittersweet flavor of shyness. Seigel does a superb job of communicating the meanings and messages behind the music. In what he calls, “Teaching in the sense that you don’t feel lectured to.” (If I could only relate this concept to some of my professors.) By doing this, Seigel shows the audience what the sounds meant to Chopin’s ears. Seigel is gifted with more than a master’s hands, he also has a sense of humor and wit that made the presentation all the more pleasing to watch.

In the final piece, Seigel’s passion for what he does is made clear. It looks like he is attacking the keys and smashing the pedals to pull the emotion out of the instrument. By the end of the show, I found myself compelled to stand and applaud, a feeling that I rarely possesses me so strongly.
If you’re itching to hear a Keyboard Conversation, you can hop over to Seigel’s website http://www.keyboardconversations.com/.

Jeffrey Siegel
Anchorage Concert Association
Sunday, March 21, 2010 @ 4:00pm
Discovery Theatre