Cambridge Summer Music presents Patrick Hemmerlé: Chopin and Debussy

Friday 6 July 2018, 7.30pm 

Robinson College Chapel

 

Patrick Hemmerlé piano

 

Chopin 24 Preludes Opus 28

Debussy 12 Preludes, Book 2

 

Last year Festival audiences were treated to the experience of French pianist Patrick Hemmerlé playing all 48 of Bach’s Preludes and Fugues (otherwise known as Books 1 and 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier), in two unforgettable recitals. Now Patrick returns to perform preludes by two giants of the piano repertoire, Chopin and Debussy.

 

Drawing inspiration from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier to compose his own cycle of 24 Preludes, Chopin gave the Prelude form an independent existence as a usually very short, undeveloped piece, almost a fragment, which nevertheless contains an entire world.

 

Following Chopin, many composers adopted the form and the idea behind it. Among these, Debussy is perhaps the most significant, and his own cycle of 24 Preludes is equal in importance to Chopin's. For this concert – marking the centenary of Debussy’s death – Patrick Hemmerlé will perform the 12 preludes from Book 2.