Reprogramming Schumann and Contemporary Piano Cycles
As a performer, I notice an increasing demand:
Concert programmes need a raison d’être.
This project breaks up Schumann and contemporary piano cycles into small pieces, and rearranges them in a specific order to tell a new story.
The aim of this project is to discover performers' dual roles, both as divulger and creator, as well as providing a refreshing view of the existing piano cycles for audiences.
Reprogramme Op.1
'Carnaval Eddy'
Schumann's Carnaval & Geoff King's Family Photos
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In this reprogramme, Carnaval represents a mirage, which is constantly interrupted and intruded upon by doubt, uncertainty and disbelief, represented by Geoff King’s Family Photos.
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Key Concept:
We prefer to escape from the reality, even though we realise that we should not.
Reprogrammed Op.2
'Fantasy Review'
Schumann's Fantasiestücke & Schoenberg's Op.11 & Op.19
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This reprogramme consists of two viewpoints: 1) from the person who experiences the fantasy journey, and 2) from the person who observes this fantasy experience. Fantasiestücke displays the actual experience, while Schoenberg Op.11 and Op.19 expresses the views and afterthoughts from the observer.
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Key Concept:
One can never fully empathise with others’ feelings without undergoing the same experiences.
Reprogramme Op.3
'Dreaming Kreisleriana'
Schumann's Kreisleriana & Jörg Widmann's Elf Humoresken
This reprogramme is a dream. It begins with falling into a dream with Humoreske No.10, and expresses almost every sensation we can experience, until we wake up by the end of Humoreske No.11.
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Key Concept:
Life is a dream, and always reaches the same destination. Experiences are the truly valuable things.
Reprogramme Op.4
'Kinderszenen's Remembrance'
Schumann's Kinderszenen & Stockhausen's Klavierstücke No.1-5 & 7-9
This reprogramme describes a person recollecting his childhood, along with all the horrible memories throughout life stirring up as fragments. Kinderszenen represents the warm, wonderful and happy memories and Stockhausen’s Klavierstücke represents the terrible, miserable and melancholy memories, which we do not want to remember but can never forget.
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Key Concept:
Despite experiencing terrible things, we always endeavour to remember something good.
