GENIUS #CHOPIN – A Theatrical Concert

CLASSICALFOR ALL_Logo1clrFor “Classical for All” ; February and March are the months to celebrate Frederic Chopin’s birthday! On February 21st, we are putting our project GENIUS #CHOPIN on its feet with a great cast of players! It is a theatrical concert created by Emir and I, focused on the timelessness of Chopin’s music.
You can join us by purchasing your tickets here : www.geniuschopin.eventbrite.com
And here’s a little reading from “Classical for All” ;

“I do not climb so high. A long time ago I decided that my universe will be the soul and the heart of man. It is there that I look for nuances of every feeling which I transfer to music as well as I can.” – Frederic CHOPIN

“Hats off gentlemen! A new genius!” shouted a young music enthusiast in Leipzig. He had the score of a new piece by Frederic Chopin in his hand. He sat down at the piano and started to play the piece while everyone, including composer Robert Schumann, in Caffebaum listened to him silently.
chopinsick1In his short life, often interrupted by his poor health,Frédéric Chopin composed more than 200 pieces for piano. When we consider all the other highly acclaimed classical composers of his time, composing only for the piano could be something that many people would look down to. However, whenever someone played his music, or let’s put it this way; whenever Chopin started to talk, he made his case. His sincere, open-hearted, sentimental and yet solemn melodies spoke to the listener, directly about beauty. This chat continues for centuries between Frederic and us.

However Chopin is no hero, and his life was no fairytale. He spent most of his life complaining about loneliness, away from his country, in places that he could barely speak the language. His humorous character grew grumpier and grumpier as his body weakened through the years. He wasn’t good looking, wasn’t rich, he didn’t own any property, didn’t have any children. He was nowhere close to being “the boy next door”. He could easily be forgotten in the history of humankind. He had only one thing; his music. During the war between Russia and Poland, he was away from home, in constant worry and grief.

“And I here unoccupied! And I am here with empty hands! Sometimes I only groan, suffer and despair at the piano! ”

He wrote to his journal. Is it only his talent that made him a genius, or his endurance and ability to hold on to something meaningful to him?
GENIUS #CHOPIN-Postcard
The genius of Frederic Chopin is our foundation, our corner stone in this theatrical concert. While following his life story with its successes, longings, hesitations, loves and losses, we are witnessing the lives of others from different times and places around the world. Some of the characters have gifts to be discovered, to be fought for, and some of them are waiting for an inspiration to take the first step. With his music, Frédéric Chopin will be there for them to give inspiration, strength and sometimes challenge.

GENIUS #CHOPIN is a Theatrical Concert about the genius of the celebrated composer and the genius within us, with six scenes in six different times & places with 13 characters telling the story of one composer.
 
Concept by Classical for All
Music: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Pianist: Emir Gamsızoğlu
A Play by Ege Maltepe
CAST: Thomas Lester , Rüya Koman , Steven Hitt , Cihangir Duman , Valentina Giovannini, Ege Maltepe
FEBRUARY 21st, 2016 – 4:00pm 
Greenwich House Music School – Renee Weiler Concert Hall
46 Barrow Street, New York NY 10014
TICKETS: http://www.geniuschopin.eventbrite.com

SCENES & MUSIC PROGRAM

OPENING
Op.53 – Polonaise in A Flat Major, “Heroic”
TOKYO PRESENT TIME
Op.64, No.2 – Waltz in C Sharp Minor
Op.66 – Fantasie Impromptu
WARSAW 2030
Op.7, No.3 – Mazurka No.7 in F Minor
ISTANBUL 1981
Op.10, No.12 – Etude No.12 in C Minor, “Revolutionary”
NEW YORK 2011
Op.10, No.5 – Etude in G Flat Major, “Black Keys”
PARIS 1840
Op.28, No.15 – Prelude in D Flat Major, “Raindrop”
Op.23 – Ballade No.1
NEW ORLEANS 1920
Op.68, No.4 – Mazurka No.49 in F Minor, , “Last composition”
EPILOGUE
Nocturne No.8, Op.27, No.2

After our first workshop for GENIUS(by Chopin)

Our first workshop was inspiring and so much fun! We read about Chopin, talked about his life and listened to couple of his pieces selected by our director Jim Furlong and pianist Emir Gamsizoglu. Then, we dived into a deep discussion on how we define genius. What makes a talented man a genius. How does it manifest itself? How do we recognize it? Would Chopin still be a genius if he was the son of a coal miner? and many many more questions…

GENIUS(by Chopin) is about the talent/gift/potential that we all have and how our surrounding affects to  manifestation of it. It is about the struggles before our potential can be released and show itself in the shape of a vision/innovation/work.
The play consists of six scenes from different times and places. Frederic Chopin with his life and music, being played live on stage, is our metaphor and the main stone that we build the play upon.

As the playwright and one of the performers of this play, I am having so much fun in the process of creating together. Join our next workshop (July 17th) to bring your questions or answers. We are looking forward to meet possible off stage and on stage company members. Check out www.geniusbychopin.wordpress.com for more info!

Welcome to my website/blog!

I love bridges. I’m from Istanbul.
In this website you will find some detailed information about me as an actor who also teaches acting, coaches executives, directs and writes plays and creates projects.
In this blog you can follow what I am up to. No need to explain that I know! Just trying to show my hospitality in here as a Turkish woman…
These days I am up to finishing the second draft of a new play/project called GENIUS (by Chopin). It is a theatrical concert on Frederic Chopin, the composer and his genius, as well as the genius hidden in many of us. Let me give you the link for this special project that will premiere in NYC in October : www.geniusbychopin.wordpress.com – Yes, I love wordpress! – and yes, the piece will be performed in New York City. Because I live in New York City for 5 years now, enjoying burgers and bagels, boiling summers with clammy subway stations. I also enjoy walking around with a cup of coffee in my hand, that’s very New Yorker, I haven’t seen anyone sipping coffee while walking in Istanbul. In Turkey we like to take our time, especially with food. Well, I’m trying to find a mid-way. Told you, I love bridges!
Will keep you posted!