Winning a prize in the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw opens the door to the world’s major concert halls. For many pianists, participation in this prestigious event also means frequent returns to Poland. Those three weeks of competition rivalry suffice for a strong bond to form between competitors and audience. Martín García García, honoured with the Warsaw Philharmonic’s special prize for the best performance of a Chopin concerto, is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive prize-winners of the last edition of the great competition. Although it took place quite recently, in 2021, the Spanish pianist has already visited Poland several times since. Thus far, the young virtuoso has displayed his skills especially in original bravura interpretations of Chopin’s music. This time his programme will refer to the culture of his homeland, although only one of the composers was actually born on the Iberian Peninsula. The enigmatic title of Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain conceals a cycle of symphonic impressions, ostensibly resembling the form of a solo concerto. The piano part that will be performed by Martín García García, although frequently to the fore, was effectively treated by the composer as one of the parts enhancing the rich orchestral palette with additional colours.
Bartłomiej Gembicki
