| The
programme includes events organized for our
patrons and friends: |
|
 Frédéric
Chopin à Paris
New initiatives to explore
France / Paris as a key source for Chopin's music and legacy:
his French father, his oeuvre 1831-1849,
74 Rue de Chaillot, 12 Place Vendôme, his funeral and tomb,
posthumous works, the
artworks created in
Paris, salons in
La Belle Époque.
As discovered by Icons of Europe, Jenny Lind - and later Princess Winnaretta de
Polignac through her Paris salon - took many initiatives to call attention
to Chopin's Polish roots.
While his music was appreciated in Paris and London and even America in the
second half of the
19th century, the musical elite of Russian-occupied Poland did at the time
not appear to
have any deep knowledge of Chopin's works.
>> Example |
|
 Chopin
1810-2010 celebration
Poland's Minister of Culture and National Heritage invited Icons of Europe to
attend the
Gala
Concert at Opera Narodowa in Warsaw on 1 March 2010.
Icons of Europe hosted two private
piano recitals
by
Daniel Blumenthal at Lasne in March
2010.
These events followed the series of tributes to
Chopin and Poland
organized by Icons of Europe in 2002-2009.
In 2010-2011,
with Icons of Europe's support:
- Global premiere of
the BBC TV documentary "Chopin: The Women Behind The
Music" (Jenny Lind
material provided by Icons of Europe);
- Official commemorative Chopin
event in Paris related to our research;
- New Chopin /
Jenny Lind book in French by Cecilia Jorgensen (their secret romance and
its implications for the monumentalization of Chopin);
- World premiere of
"The Composer and The
Nightingale" reflecting the latest
research findings
(playwrights: Cecilia and Jens Jorgensen).
|
|
 Chopin
2010 Congress
We have submitted paper proposals to
the Congress.
On 12 May 2006, the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw
invited the founders of Icons of Europe to be
honorary
advisors to the
Chopin 2010 programme. |
|
 February
2009
New research refutes an
'injurious'
allegation in the press on Mendelssohn's friendship with
Jenny Lind
>> See the conclusions
dismissing the allegation.
Image from the
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Stiftung. |
|
  The
City of Lodz
Icons
of Europe began in 2007 an exchange of ideas with the
City
of Lodz, Poland on its bid to become a
European
Capital of Culture in 2016.
>> MORE |
|
 Ongoing
Oscar Wilde / Boston / Napoleon
Research on the life and works of Irish poet-dramatist
Oscar Wilde is a priority. He wrote
in 1890: "After playing Chopin, I feel as if I had
been weeping over sins that I had never committed, and
mourning over tragedies that were not my own" (The
Critic As Artist).
Partly related, research is also being
conducted on the cultural exchanges of the distinguished
19th century BOSTON SATURDAY CLUB with Europe, and on
NAPOLEON's rise to power in France and Europe. |
|
 On
the occasion of World TB Day 2008
U.S. premiere at Opera Museum, N.Y.
Our musical drama "Chopin and The
Nightingale" was performed at the Chopin
Festival of the
Marcella Sembrich Opera
Museum, Bolton Landing, Lake George, New York on 25 and 27 July
2008. >> MORE |
|
|
 Ongoing
Posthumous period of Chopin
New
research is being conducted on the 1849-1929
posthumous period of Chopin, and on Jenny Lind's use of symbolism for the
enshrinement of the legacies of Chopin and herself.
The enshrinement reached a climax in Paris during La Belle
Époque. |
|
 Ongoing
Development of film project
in partnership with IT FINANCE.
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw and Daniel
Blumenthal, the renowned pianist, are advisors to the project.
The research work of Icons of Europe has been used to
write the 120-page screenplay.
It will be the first historically correct feature film about Chopin, and the first
ever about Jenny Lind. |
|
 24 April 2005, Toronto, premiere
"Chopin and The Nightingale"
performed in context of World
TB Day
by The Glenn Gould School of the
Royal
Conservatory of Music at the
Royal Ontario Museum; co-produced
with Icons of Europe and with the
support of Toronto Public Health. |
|
 2 April 2005
Hans Christian Andersen
The 200-year anniversary of
Hans Christian Andersen's birthday was
celebrated in Toronto by the Nightingale
events on 4 March and 24 April
(see below and above).
>> More |
|
 4 March 2005, Toronto, concert
"Chopin masterpieces
and Nightingale songs"
In the context of World TB Day,
Chopin's Concerto in F-minor
and songs from "Chopin and
The Nightingale" performed by
The Glenn Gould School.
Hans Christian Andersen: 200 years! |
|
 11-12 January
2005, Edinburgh
Roundtable with British musicologists, University of
Edinburgh, on the Chopin / Jenny Lind research findings. |
|
 July - December, 2004, Lasne
Research initiatives
In preparation for future events and publications, research on new issues:
- Film project: Chopin / Jenny Lind
- Chopin key venues in Paris
- Trail of Mazurka in A-flat,
op. 24, n° 3
- Polish art treasures in
Canada
- "Lucrezia" | Niecks
| Stirling | Tellefsen |
|
 5 June 2004, near Brussels
"Dvorák and Brahms:
a creative friendship"
A recital for cello and piano by Justus Grimm and Daniel
Blumenthal, to celebrate the New Europe and Dvorák's 100-year anniversary on 1 May 1904.
Icons of the Czech Republic
Patronage: CZ, DE, US embassies. |
|
 6 April 2004, Embassy
of Sweden, Warsaw
Nightingale Opus 24
Musical drama for piano, two
sopranos and narrator - to celebrate the New Europe through Chopin, Jenny Lind and Hans
Christian Andersen with a specially invited audience including sponsor guests. |
|
 1 March 2004, in Warsaw
Expert roundtable
Presentation and discussion of our new research
findings on Chopin and Jenny Lind at a roundtable (ref. minutes) with
Chopin experts and the media at Warsaw Philharmonic, in connection with the annual Chopin
birthday concert. |
|
 11 October 2003, in Lasne
Nightingale Opus 24
Based on the new Chopin biography, avant-premiere of a musical drama for piano, two sopranos and narrator
- to celebrate Chopin, Jenny Lind and Hans Christian Andersen. Patronage by six
ambassadors. With thanks to our sponsors. |
|
A tenue-de-ville dress code and an indoor
no-smoking
policy apply to all events in Lasne.
>> Best moments | Annual
reports |
