The year 2020 was a strange, lonely year for many of us, due to the spreading corona virus. (...) Music was something that gave this comfort, taking our minds away and transporting us to different worlds. I, for instance, found myself diving into the music of Chopin. His music had an important place in my life from early childhood and I worked extensively on various pieces with my parents, who were my teachers at that time in Kiev. While we were separated for a long time, I felt closer to them through his music. Practising certain waltzes or nocturnes seemed to transport me in time and space and reflected the current mood with their dreaminess and melancholy.

When the opportunity to record a new album spontaneously arose, I immediately thought about the music of Chopin. I made a selection of various Waltzes, Nocturnes and Mazurkas, and added the Fantaisie Impromptu, as they cover a wide spectrum of emotions, moods and colours. It’s incredible how Chopin can express himself so intensively and so deeply in a piece which lasts just a few minutes. He always manages to create a captivating atmosphere and a unique dream world. While performing Chopin’s miniatures it feels like diving into a living painting, artistically shaping its unique story, colours and characters with music. (...)

Anna Fedorova (from ‘Shaping Chopin’ booklet introduction)