Muse and Musings: The Chopin-Viardot Mazurka Dialogues

Muse and Musings invite audiences into the creative partnership between Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) and Pauline Viardot-García (1821–1910), where piano miniatures are transformed into vivid vocal works. Developed during their time together at Nohant, Viardot’s adaptations of Chopin’s mazurkas weave Polish dance rhythms with expressive texts, ornamentation, and improvisatory nuance, revealing a shared spirit of artistic exploration.

This program brings these collaborations to life through historically informed, practice-led interpretation, drawing on bel canto traditions and the vocal pedagogy of Manuel García II. Singer and pianist engage in an embodied reimagining of these works, uncovering how transcription becomes a vehicle for emotional nuance and stylistic exchange.

By illuminating this distinctive creative dialogue, the concert offers a fresh lens on Chopin’s music while celebrating Viardot’s role as a pioneering artist—inviting listeners to experience the mazurka as both intimate song and expressive conversation.

Featured Artists: Anna Fraser (soprano), Claire Burrell-McDonald (soprano) and Giulio Biddau, Italy (piano)

Credits:

This program is supported by Australian Research Council funded Discovery Project DP 220101596 The Shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto 1700–1900. Anna Frasers appears courtesy of Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. Claire Burrell-McDonald appears courtesy of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, University of Griffith. Giulio Biddau appears courtesy of Conservatorio di Musica "G. Pierluigi da Palestrina", Cagliari, Italy and Zuricher Hochschule der Künste, Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria.

Duration 70 min (no interval)

Introduction by Prof Neal Peres Da Costa (Dean of Research, Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Lead chief investigator for Discovery Project Shock of the old: Rediscovering the sounds of bel canto). For more information visit belcantorediscovered.org/

A brief Q & A will be facilitated at the end of the program.

Venue: Master Music Studio, Unit 6/80 Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe NSW 2037

mastermusicstudio.com.au/