How does it feel to perform every waltz Frederic Chopin wrote in one sitting? Evidently, tiring — or at least that’s how Dr. David Northington, world-renowned pianist and professor of piano, felt during the intermission at his solo concert. Of course, that was before the second half of the program and the four encores that followed.
The concert, entitled “A Waltz Through the Life of Frederic Chopin,” packed The University of Tennessee Music Hall the evening of Nov. 10 with a warm, lively crowd.
“As a performer, there’s always an energy (in the audience), and you can feel the vibes,” Northington said. “There was a really good energy at the concert. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
The enjoyment was mutual. As soon as Northington stepped on stage, his clever and short bursts of commentary about Chopin kept the audience engaged from waltz to waltz. And if music and humor didn’t keep the crowd’s attention, Northington’s laid-back, conversationalist style complete with the Einsteinian hairdo certainly did.
For two hours, the musical genius made Chopin’s waltzes look like nursery rhymes but sound like Paganini Studies. And after he finished, the audience kept applauding through four encores.
“Well, he only wrote two more,” Northington said playfully, before the fourth encore. Naturally, he sat back down and gave the finale.
Afterward, both residents and students alike were astounded. Senior Grace Lee, a piano major and student of Northington, said he is a great teacher and performer with a good ear for music, plus amazing technical talent.
“I think the Chopin waltzes really match his personality,” Lee said. “Some of the pieces were even better than on the recording.”
The recording Lee referred to was a new record of Chopin Waltzes Northington recently released. Northington said the concert was actually a celebration of that record and Chopin’s music.
“Chopin was one of the very few composers who wrote almost exclusively for the piano,” Northington said. “He understood the piano as well as any composer that ever lived. And consequently he exploited the resources of the instrument in a remarkable way.”
Northington also said that because of Chopin’s familiarity with the piano, his compositions are very challenging to interpret.
Yet, after graduating from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, debuting at Carnegie Hall, playing venues like the Salle Gaveau in Paris and teaching for almost 30 years, the Chopin concert was pocket change to a rich career.
“The best thing I can say is that these things evolve, careers evolve,” Northington said. “You don’t really plan them. I think what happens is that you become encouraged by your successes and this fuels your career. You have a high here or a high there and you make a decision that ends up affecting your whole life.”
Nevertheless, Northington’s highs are up with the average Joe’s impossibilities. Not only does he have natural talent, but he said during his university days, he would spend six to seven hours practicing. Whether that’s dedication or obsession, he plays like a pure virtuoso — not just as a performer, but as an inspirational educator.
“Personally, I’m going to miss him so much,” Lee said. “This is my last year, and I’ve learned a lot from him. He helped me grow not only as a musician, but also in my life.”
Northington’s CD, entitled “Chopin: Waltzes,” can be found either through Centaur Records or at http://www.cduniverse.com.
