Chopin pur: Girim Choi at French Cathedral
Berlin, French Cathedral — Main Hall
About the Event
Step back into history and experience the grandeur of piano music at the beautiful French Cathedral in Berlin.
Frédéric Chopin has been celebrated as a master of Romanticism for 200 years. The composer himself loved to sit for hours at the piano and play for himself. As a pianist with brilliant technique, he not only operated the 88 keys, but 'touched' them. We present this beautiful simplicity of his music with outstanding young pianists in the series 'Chopin pur' in the French Cathedral.
Girim Choi is a South Korean pianist. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in solo performance at the Berlin University of the Arts under Prof. Markus Groh and is currently studying for his concert examination there under Prof. Lucas Blondeel. At the same time, he is undertaking postgraduate studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels under Prof. Jan Michiels. In the 2026/2027 season, he will also be Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, where he is studying with Frank Braley and Avedis Kouyoumdjian.
Choi has won prizes at numerous international piano competitions, including the Artur Schnabel Piano Competition, the Aarhus International Piano Competition and the Asia‐Pacific International Chopin Piano Competition. As a soloist, he has performed in Berlin, amongst other venues, and with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and the Gyeongbuk Philharmonic Orchestra under Antoni Wit and Michael Schønwandt.
Program
- Frederic Chopin – Selected works for piano
Artists
| Piano: | Yuliya Drogalova |
|---|
French Cathedral
The Französischer Dom, or French Church, is one of the three main structures gracing the Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin's most picturesque square. Constructed as a sanctuary for the Huguenots, members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, the church provided refuge for those fleeing persecution under the reign of Frederick the Great. Facing the German Church (Neue Kirche), the French Cathedral’s identical dome mirrors its counterpart, creating a breathtaking architectural duo. Interestingly, the term 'Dom' here refers to the French 'dome', not the German 'cathedral'. Within its walls, you'll find the Huguenot museum, a dining venue, and a viewing platform that offers spectacular vistas of Berlin's Mitte district.
Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin, the Polish composer and pianist of the Romantic era (early 19th century), is celebrated for his piano solos, as well as his contributions to piano concertos, chamber pieces, and songs set to Polish lyrics. Renowned as a poetic genius unmatched by his contemporaries, he pioneered the concept of the instrumental ballade, earning recognition for performances characterized by sensitivity and subtlety. Spending much of his life in Paris, Chopin favored the intimate atmospheres of salons for his performances. Despite his enduring legacy, he struggled with poor health throughout his life, ultimately succumbing to what was likely tuberculosis at the age of 39.
Address
French Cathedral, Gendarmenmarkt 5, Berlin, Germany — Google Maps
