Artist:
Reinis Zariņš, piano
Description:
“Bach or Chopin? Yes, both!” says pianist Reinis Zariņš as he invites audiences to a concert featuring his new solo program.
In 2025, the world will mark 340 years since the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, arguably the most influential composer of all time. With his new program, Reinis Zariņš draws attention to Bach’s impact on Frédéric Chopin. The creative connection between these two masters is rarely highlighted, and their music is almost never presented side by side. This makes Zariņš’s program all the more surprising, as it showcases how the musical languages of Bach and Chopin—undeniably distant—can find harmony together.
Reinis Zariņš is known for crafting bold and conceptual concert programs. This bridge between baroque and romanticism is yet another testament to the award-winning pianist’s keen observation skills and ability to uncover unexpected connections.
Zariņš explains:
“Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier is essential repertoire not only for modern pianists but also for Chopin himself. He played all 48 preludes and fugues from this monumental collection, sometimes even in his concerts, and used it as a cornerstone in his teaching. The idea for this concert program came when I discovered that during Chopin’s health recovery trip to Mallorca, he brought along only one sheet music collection—Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, containing preludes and fugues in all keys. The result of this trip was Chopin’s own cycle of 24 preludes in every key. Until then, I never considered pairing Bach with Chopin; their musical expressions and sounds seemed so vastly different. But once I started looking for commonalities, I found many—and I’m still discovering more!”
The program will feature preludes in all keys, shared between the two composers, as well as larger works. This unique concert offers an exclusive opportunity to experience the creative worlds of these two masters simultaneously, building new bridges between what might seem incompatible.
Photo: Kristaps Anškens
