Lecture - Who doesn’t love Chopin’s Nocturnes by Marie François

Free admission, no registration required

About this lecture
​​In April 2023, I spent a month living in Warsaw, Poland, with the aim of immersing myself in the world of Chopin. I wanted to experience the city where Chopin lived, see what he saw, and gain a deeper understanding of him as a composer, pianist, and human being. Alongside this, I sought to better understand Polish culture, hear the language, and connect with the history that shaped his music.During this time, I studied all of Chopin’s nocturnes, one each day. More than just learning the pieces, I wanted to capture the entire process I go through as a pianist — from the initial study of new repertoire, to the performance on stage, and finally, to the release of a CD. These stages take time, and I wanted to share that journey with my audience. I wanted to engage my audience in a more personal way, which is why I created a podcast to document my experiences. I performed try-outs in people’s living rooms, drawing inspiration from Chopin himself, who only performed 30 public concerts during his life and preferred intimate settings. By involving the audience in this way, I hoped they could learn alongside me and become part of this story.The podcast, Musing with Marie, later won the Belgian Podcast Award 2024 for Best Independent Story. Following this, I toured with over 50 recitals of the nocturnes. In November 2024, I recorded all 21 nocturnes, and the CD will be released in May 2025.​