Schedule and Happenings

Evelyne Brancart Visits Richard Burnett Heritage Collection of Historic Pianos         —November 23, 2021—

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PLAYING 1842 PLEYEL PIANO

Evelyne Brancart traveled to the UK (specifically. Tunbridge Wells— an hour south of London) to visit and play on pianos from the Richard Burnett Heritage Collection. Her specific interest in the collection stems from a research project she is undertaking: Discovering Chopin’s Piano Performance Practice Through His Etudes. The primary focus of it is to shed light on, through written explanation and her performance (on video), of embedded pianistic choreography in the etudes—works clearly central to understanding the physiology of piano artistry. Experience with instruments similar with those that Chopin actually performed with is obviously a key element for the project, and it is this that prompted the visit.

Evelyne approached the visit with significant curiosity and anticipation. She was led the Collection by Director of Projects, Gary Branch and Collection Curator, Cesar Hernandez. Among other fascinating instruments, Evelyne was introduced to the two outstanding Clementi pianos, and the 1823 Broadwood and 1826 Graf, which related to Chopin’s performance on these pianos in his travels to Vienna in 1829. It was with delight that she also heard Gary play on the Johann Fritz piano, with its mechanism of three bells punctuating the chorus-type material in Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turka. Moreover, it was a revelation for her to play and hear the true ethereal voice—that begins the last movement of Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata— emerge from the Graf piano.

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After a complete morning tour of the Collection, Evelyne sat down in the afternoon for a video-recorded session playing excerpts from the etudes on a Pleyel Piano of 1842—a model that Chopin owned.

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Evelyne’s revelations here were that the instrument is not easy (or forgiving) to play; but does respond consistently to technical approaches illuminated by Chopin’s approach in the etudes. Additionally, the sound is quite rich, with excellent clarity in the lower end, and transparency in the upper registers. The instrument and its action clearly require strength to play, which support a quote of Chopin that he preferred the Erard piano when he was more fatigued. It belies the perspective that Chopin’s penchant for softer intimate playing meant that he preferred an instrument more effortless to play. What emerges is that when feeling strong, his technical approach could manage the Pleyel; and he valued its singing tone, clarity and definition in different registers, and rich quality.

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Visiting the Richard Burnett Heritage Collection was thus important and essential for Evelyne’s project, and a truly amazing and illuminating experience!

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She is extremely thankful to Katrina and Richard Burnett for their hospitality, and to Gary and Cesar for providing so much information and insight

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2022

JULY 17- 30: ORFORD, QUEBÉC CANADA 

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Piano Masterclasses — Orford Music Festival Academy

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MARCH 30: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

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Presentation On Discovering Chopin's Piano Performance Practice Through His Etudes,

Music Teachers National Conference

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MARCH 26: JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA 

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Piano Recital (Complete Chopin Etudes)—Auer Concert Hall, 8pm

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MARCH 9: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER 

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Piano Recital (Complete Chopin Etudes)

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MARCH 8: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER 

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Piano Masterclass

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      2021

AUGUST 2 - 14: ORFORD, QUEBÉC CANADA 

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Piano Masterclasses — Orford Music Festival Academy

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JULY 19-25: MANCHESTER VERMONT

Manchester Chamber Music Festival

(Masterclasses for Festival Young Arts Program)

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MARCH 8, (7pm): DUBLIN, IRELAND

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Piano Pedagogy Presentation On Discovering

Chopins Piano Performance Practice Through His Etudes,

TU Dublin Conservatory of Music

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JANUARY 25: VIRGINIA, USA

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Guest Presentation, Romantic Era Seminar 

(For Doctoral Students)

James Madison University

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      2020

AUGUST 2- 14 ORFORD, QUEBÉC CANADA 

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Masterclasses — Orford Music Festival Academy

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JULY 24: DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON DIGITAL RELEASE

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Evelyne Brancart Recording —

Mozart Piano Concert Nr. 21. K467

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JULY 20-27: MANCHESTER VERMONT

                     CANCELLED

Masterclasses for Young Arts Program and

Chamber Music Concert (July 23) —

Manchester Chamber Music Festival

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JULY15:  GUEST APPEARANCE INTERVIEW

Hustle Heartbreaks Podcast with Galia Arad

(Click Above To listen)

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JULY 9—SEPTEMBER 9: JUDGE, COLUMBIA,

SOUTH AMERICA (ONLINE)

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Piano Competition of the 52nd National Cultural Awards, University of Antioquia, Columbia 

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JUNE 18: GRANT AWARD

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Evelyne Brancart Receives IU Presidential Arts and Humanities Grant Award to Support Her Video and Book project: Discovering Chopin's Piano Performance Practice Through His Etudes

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MARCH 22: ORFORD, QUEBÉC CANADA 

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Piano Recital (Program for Youth)—Gilles-Levebvre Concert Hall, 2pm

Orford Music Series

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                  2019​

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MAY 23 - JUNE 7: SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA 

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Masterclasses and Solo Recital (June 4) —

Festival Indiana, Teatro De Bicentenario

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JUNE 8 -17: CHILE

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SANTIAGO

Piano Recital, June 9 — University of Chile

Masterclasses, June 10-12 — University of Chile

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FRUTILLAR

Masterclasses and Community Outreach, June 14-15

Piano Recital,* June 16 — Teatro Del Lago

*With Pianist Paulina Zamora

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JULY 7: BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

Summer Music Cello & Piano Recital,** 

Auer Hall, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University​

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*Peter Stumpf, Cellist

JULY 17: BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

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Summer Music Chamber Music Recital

Music for Piano & Strings of Beethoven

Auer Hall, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University​

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AUGUST 5 -16: QUEBEC, CANADA

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 Orford Music Festival & Academy, International Masterclasses

 Judge, Orford Music Award — International Piano Competition