Earlier this week, Maestro David Amado and guest artist, Drew Peterson, met over Zoom to discuss the upcoming Masterworks II concert, titled “Enchanted”. Petersen, an acclaimed American Pianist, will be performing Chopin’s Concerto No. 2. Excited to perform the Concerto over the span of four concerts with the Atlantic Classical Orchestra (ACO), he praised the composition as “One of a kind – I can’t quite think of any piece quite like it!”
In this interview, Amado and Petersen explore the complex and somewhat surprising emotions that it evoked. Amado commented that he was “Completely brought back to college [and] pre-college days – sitting in piano class.” Petersen added that “This piece…evokes all types of sensations, particularly taste and smell.” further describing it as “perfumed” and a “Concerto that [he has] always loved.”
When discussing the particulars of practicing and preparing for performing this piece, Peterson touched on the idea that musicians and conductors are “small muscle athletes” and that when talking about Chopin’s compostions, you’re talking about “Intricacies that are so demanding, so difficult…that you’re going to get tired!” adding that he has to be “smart” on how he expends his physical energy.
He continued to discuss the challenge of playing on a modern piano, which sports wider and deeper keys than those Chopin likely conducted his scores for. Explaining that he’s even adapted to utilizing larger arm movements to account for the difference. An ability of modern pianists that Amado praises as “amazing.”
Peterson added that Chopin’s writing is “Just so beautiful, that the listener does not think about the difficulties.”
Please click below to listen to the interview in its entirety, and enjoy learning about the piece, composer, and what to expect from this next concert. Chopin’s Concerto No. 2 will be performed after Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture and before intermission. After intermission, concertgoers will be delighted to hear Ravel’s Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose).
