‘Chopin for All’ opens the year with piano recital at Granada Church

By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Few classical traditions in South Florida have matched the quiet civic impact of Chopin for All, the free concert series presented by the Chopin Foundation of the United States. Designed to bring world-class pianists into community spaces, the series removes barriers to entry while preserving artistic rigor. On Sunday, January 11, the foundation continues that mission with an afternoon recital at the Granada Church (950 University Dr.), inviting audiences to experience the music of Frédéric Chopin alongside works by Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven.

A rising artist on the international stage

The concert features American pianist Karina Tseng, winner of the Best Polonaise Prize and a semi-finalist at the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition. Tseng has emerged as one of the most closely watched young pianists of her generation, earning top prizes at major international competitions across Europe and the United States. Now based between Switzerland and Italy, she returns to Florida with a program that reflects both technical command and interpretive depth.

Chopin at the center

At the heart of the recital is a substantial selection of works by Frédéric Chopin, whose music remains the cornerstone of the Foundation’s mission. Tseng’s program includes the Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, a work that combines narrative sweep with formidable pianistic demands, alongside a full set of Mazurkas from Op. 30. The afternoon culminates with the Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat Major, Op. 61, a late work that blends national dance rhythms with expansive, free-form structure. Also featured are the Nocturne in E Major, Op. 62, No. 2 and the rarely heard Waltz in E Major, B. 44, offering a broad portrait of Chopin’s expressive range.

Romantic landscapes and classical architecture

The program widens beyond Chopin to include Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82, a cycle of character pieces that evoke nature, memory, and imagination through concise musical vignettes. Tseng also performs Ludwig van Beethoven’s 15 Variations and Fugue in E-flat Major, Op. 35, known as the “Eroica” Variations, a work that bridges Classical form and Romantic expansion with intellectual clarity and rhythmic vitality.

An afternoon concert for the whole community

True to the spirit of Chopin for All, admission to the Jan. 11 concert is free, with general seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is recommended to help secure a seat, and members of the Chopin Foundation may request reserved seating by contacting the Foundation directly. The venue is accessible, family-friendly with parental supervision, and supported by free parking along Bird Road and University Drive.

A local setting with global reach

The Granada Church has become a familiar home for the Foundation’s community concerts, offering an intimate acoustic well suited to solo piano repertoire. Within that setting, Tseng’s recital reflects the broader goal of the series: presenting artists who compete and perform on international stages while remaining rooted in public access and education.

Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff

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