Bach and Chopin. Reinis Zariņš
“Bach or Chopin? Yes, both!” — says pianist Reinis Zariņš, inviting to a concert featuring his brand-new solo program.
The year 2025 marks the 340th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, arguably the most influential composer of all time. With this new program, Reinis Zariņš invites listeners to discover Bach’s influence on Frédéric Chopin—a connection that is rarely highlighted, and whose music is almost never presented side by side. This makes Zariņš’s program all the more surprising and compelling, as the musical languages of Bach and Chopin, though seemingly worlds apart, find harmony in this unique concept.
Reinis Zariņš is known for his bold and conceptual concert programs, and this bridge between the Baroque and Romantic eras is a testament to the award-winning pianist’s keen observation and ability to reveal unexpected connections.
Zariņš explains:
“Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier is a foundational text not only for today’s pianists, but it was for Chopin too. He played all 48 preludes and fugues of this double collection, often performing them in his concerts, and used The Well-Tempered Clavier as a cornerstone in his teaching. The idea for this program was born when I learned that during a health retreat in Mallorca, Chopin took with him only one music book — The Well-Tempered Clavier, with its preludes and fugues in every key. The result of that trip was Chopin’s own cycle of 24 preludes in all keys. Until then, I had never imagined placing Bach and Chopin side by side — their sensibilities, their sounds, are so different. But then I began to search for common ground — and I found quite a lot, and I’m still discovering more!”
The concert program will feature preludes in all keys by both composers, divided between the two, as well as larger-scale works, offering the audience a rare opportunity to experience the artistry of both masters and to build new bridges between what might seem like the unconnectable.
This special program will be brought to life through the unique sound of three exceptional instruments: the Steinway concert grand, David Klavins' 470i vertical concert piano, and the Una Corda, also designed by Klavins. These distinctive pianos will enrich the concert with a variety of timbres, textures, and expressive nuances.
The concert is organized by SIA “Kurzemes filharmonija”, with the support of the Ventspils City Municipality and the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation.