In the winter of 1838-9 Frédéric Chopin – along with his lover, the brilliant and pioneering writer George Sand – hunkered down in a former monastery in Majorca, determined to complete the set of 24 Preludes he had picked away at since 1836. The story of the primitive local instrument on which Chopin completed this great monument of the Romantic piano literature is key to this unique collaboration between director Richard Pyros, an actor yet to be cast, and pianist Aura Go – a Musica Viva FutureMaker, equipped with an astonishing palette and imagination. Drawing on an inspiring cast of real-life characters set amongst a complete performance of the Preludes, these three artists trace the rich history and ultimate fate of the Majorcan piano, in a dramatic mix of words and music, adapted from Paul Kildea’s book Chopin’s Piano. Their performance underlines the sheer originality of the Preludes, the enduring power of Chopin, and the changing nature of his music over time. Program to include: CHOPIN 24 Preludes, Op. 28 (1835-39)