“I’ve been at the piano all week, composing, writing, laughing, and crying, all at once,” wrote Robert Schumann to his beloved Clara while composing Humoresque. In this piece, his contrasting alter egos—varied and vibrant characters—follow one another, creating a colourful world filled with contradictions.

Chopin, too, grappled with conflicting emotions while composing his 24 Preludes in Majorca. The hopeful and melancholic facets of his personality conversed, reflecting on the past and contemplating the future. A true poet, he continued to find elegance while swirling within the kaleidoscope of his own thoughts.

The art of transformation is essential for a performer, especially when playing pieces that require swift shifts in character. I often feel as though I am in Venice, trying on different masks and fully immersing myself in new personalities. This constant change in ideas, expression, and emotion keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, following the storyline with anticipation, as time seems to fly by in an instant—whether in an intimate setting or a large concert hall..