Set in Paris just after the 1848 revolution, Felder’s show manages to answer the students (audience’s) questions with accuracy and interest.
Virtuoso pianist Hershey Felder returns to TheatreWorks in “Chopin in Paris.”
Photo Credit: Eighty Eight Entertainment
By Camille Bounds
Camille Bounds
Hershey Felder returns to TheatreWorks with his ultimate one-man show, a biographical look at the brilliant Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin, illuminating an exclusive piano lesson with this musical master.
Felder writes the story, scores the music, acts, designs the sets, and plays stunningly on a beautiful grand piano while telling the story of Chopin that interweaves Felder’s own story of his love of music and Paris. A native of Canada, Felder has combined the music, wrote and played the roles of Gershwin, Bernstein, Chopin, Liszt, Berlin, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky with beauty and accuracy. His performances leave the audience with a desire to want more and asking what’s next.
Joel Zwick directs this show with Trevor Hay as his associate director. The story moves with references to Chopin’s life and a music lesson where Fielder as “the Poet of the Piano” uses the audience as his students and asks they ask questions about his life and music, reminding them that they will pay the 20 francs for the lesson questions or not. Other Chopin pieces are scattered through the performance superbly played by Felder.
Lighting designer Erik Barry subtly lights up the set and background with windows that show Paris with snow, rain, drawings and fireworks that fit the moment. Set in Paris just after the 1848 revolution Felder manages to answer the students (audience’s) questions with accuracy and interest.
Come visit Paris and learn about the romantic life of Chopin with Hershey Felder. You’ll be mesmerized.
DETAILS
Hershey Felder: Chopin In Paris
Produced by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.- Mountain View
When: Through Sept. 11
No intermission
Tickets: $25-$103
For tickets and information, visit www.theatreworks.org
