The songs composed by Fryderyk Chopin are a narrow niche in his creative output. Yet this is not a repertoire that can be disregarded in any way. The pieces for voice and piano, published after the composer’s death, are a valuable part of his oeuvre, true gems of Lieder repertoire. They will be presented at the NFM by the singer Aldona Bartnik, accompanied by Naruhiko Kawaguchi – winner of the 2nd prize at the 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments. Visual impressions during the concert will be created by Ari Dykier. Despite the performers’ focus on lyricism, there will also be no shortage of pieces for piano solo.

Alongside the Waltz in E flat major op.  18, also known as “Grande Valse Brillante”, and the Berceuse in D flat major op. 57, the compositions belonging to this category, which the Japanese pianist will play, are less well-known and not often performed. Kawaguchi will play, for example, four mazurkas from opus 17, written between 1830 and 1833 and inspired by folklore. Chopin included a melody reminiscent of folk music also in his Nocturne in C minor, written most likely several years later and published only in 1938. His fascination with Italian opera prompted him to create the other two piano works included in the programme – these are an arrangement of the aria Casta Diva from Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma, as well as the Polonaise in B flat minor, op. posth., containing a quote from the cavatina Giannetta – a fragment of Rossini's  La gazza ladra.

The song repertoire left by Chopin reveals the literary sources of his emotions. Stefan Witwicki, Bohdan Zaleski, Adam Mickiewicz, Zygmunt Krasiński, Wincenty Pol, Ludwik Osiński… Among the authors of the words used by Chopin in his songs, we encounter both national bards and poets who would be hard to find a mention of in textbooks today. The composer approached his songs completely differently than his solo piano pieces – he wrote them sporadically, often spontaneously and with his closest friends in mind. According to Julian Fontana, he even improvised “with a book of poetry in front of him”. The song legacy of Chopin shines with all possible colours. Here we will find both simple stanzaic pieces and highly sophisticated forms; their themes are just as diverse. Among the songs those that touch on the issue of love feature prominently. It was this emotion that was so important in the Romantic era. Despite changes in almost every other respect, it holds this position to this day.