


A pianist's journey to trace the soul of Chopin
- Outstanding pianist well-known for her musicianship on Chopin
- Her compelling life story that made the interpretaion strikingly unique and outstanding
Over 90 years old, Fuzjko Hemming still takes to the world's stages as a "pianist of the soul." But her life has not been without obstacles, such as severe hearing loss and a period of statelessness. Her favorite composer, "poet of the piano" Chopin was also beset by obstacles. Taking a winter sojourn to the Spanish island of Mallorca for his health, he wrote several masterpieces despite being told by doctors that he would die there. We follow Fuzjko as she traces Chopin's precious time in Mallorca.
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0m 03s
When the doors open at a prestigious concert hall...
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The fans pour in, eager to hear a gifted pianist who found fame after living an unusual and extraordinary life.
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Fuzjko Hemming...
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Touted as a child prodigy, she seemed destined for a career as a top-class pianist.
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But that changed with a sudden loss of hearing.
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For a time, she also could not claim residency anywhere - a woman without a country.
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It wasn't until her late 60s that she finally got her break.
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Fuzjko is celebrated as a pianist of the soul.
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Though in her early 90s, she travels the world performing on numerous stages.
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I was so moved.
I thought I might cry. -
1m 48s
How does she do it?
The gentleness of the sound? -
1m 53s
Or the way the sounds envelops you?
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1m 59s
She plays with such sensitivity,
so different from other pianists. -
2m 06s
It resonates as if her soul is
producing the sound. -
2m 18s
Fuzjko shares her views on her approach.
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2m 23s
Achieving perfection is impossible
for human beings. -
2m 28s
No one is perfect, no person, no artist.
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2m 32s
When I get to heaven,
and meet Mozart and Chopin, -
2m 37s
I will ask them if they liked what I did.
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2m 40s
I think they'll say I did great.
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2m 44s
Who is the first composer
you would like to meet if you could? -
2m 52s
I have to say Chopin.
Of course, Chopin. -
2m 59s
The one composer that Fuzjko is obsessed with is Fredric Chopin.
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3m 04s
Known as the poet of the piano, he expressed his suffering through music.
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3m 13s
He was born in a small village 60 kilometers west of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in 1810.
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Excelling in music from an early age, he studied at the Warsaw Conservatory.
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3m 31s
In 1830, when he was 20, he bid his homeland farewell to expand his horizons.
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3m 43s
At that time Poland was ruled by Russia.
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3m 47s
And though the people of Warsaw revolted, their revolution failed.
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3m 55s
Chopin spent his entire life wandering through Europe, never once returning home.
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4m 05s
There is something about the way Chopin chose to live that fascinates Fuzjko.
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In 1838 when Chopin was 28,
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he and his lover novelist George Sand, along with her two children, ran away together.
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They spent three months in Mallorca, Spain.
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Chopin composed several masterpieces there,
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even though he suffered from consumption and doctors predicted he would die.
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September 2022.
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After careful consideration, Fuzjko decides to journey to Mallorca.
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5m 00s
The ruins of the monastery in Mallorca where Chopin and Sand lived while on the island...
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Feeling a connection, Fuzjko is moved to perform here.
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I play now Chopin.
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5m 35s
Fuzjiko Hemming's journey to Mallorca, Spain, in search of Chopin.
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5m 57s
The journey to Mallorca begins at Fuzjko's Paris home.
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6m 06s
Renowned violinist and world-famous concertmaster, Vasko Vassilev is a close friend.
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6m 16s
When he learned of her desire to perform in Mallorca, Vasko arranged it with colleagues in Spain.
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How are you? Nice to see you!
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6m 37s
Ready? We go!
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6m 53s
Vasko, who like Fuzjiko was a child prodigy, is the Royal Opera House's first Concertmaster and its youngest.
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For nearly 20 years, he has performed with Fuzjiko numerous times all over the world...
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And is one of Fuzjiko's trusted friends.
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Vasko has offered to drive Fuzjiko over 1000 kilometers from Paris to Barcelona in Spain.
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Flying to Mallorca takes just over two hours.
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But, the air pressure affects Fuzjko's ears, making her feel unwell.
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And so, the road trip plan, involving three days of travel, was hatched.
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Fuzjko san, today all France we pass.
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She enjoying the trip?
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8m 09s
Is she enjoying the trip?
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8m 12s
No? But she wanted so bad to go by car.
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Which do you prefer, train or car?
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8m 23s
I'd rather take a car.
There's so to see. -
8m 28s
Car.
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8m 29s
Car is easy because she can look around and stop by.
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8m 41s
Barcelona in Spain...
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8m 56s
Fuzjiko finally arrives after leaving Paris 40 hours earlier.
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9m 07s
Are you tired?
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9m 10s
We're in Barcelona.
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9m 12s
We're in Barcelona now.
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9m 19s
This is where Chopin and George Sand stayed, in this hotel.
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- Here?
- Yes, this hotel. -
9m 29s
Chopin and Sand rested at this very hotel in November of 1838 on their way to Mallorca.
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I expect that this will be a very, very exciting pilgrimage,
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for somebody that has been playing Chopin's music and trying to find how he composed this and where was he?
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Where was his feelings?
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9m 56s
Vasco is headed to London for opera rehearsals and a concert in Madrid before going to Mallorca.
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He will rejoin Fuzjiko in five days.
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Take care, okay.
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10m 23s
Fujiko heads to Mallorca, departing on the nearly midnight ferry.
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Seven hours later, just past 6:00 am, the lights of Palma, Mallorca come into view.
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184 years ago on November 8, 1838, Chopin and Sand arrived at this port on a cargo ship from Barcelona.
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Look at all those boats.
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So, what brought Chopin and his lover George Sand to Mallorca?
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The two met in 1836 at a salon hosted by Chopin's friend Franz Liszt.
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Sand was an early advocate for the liberation of women.
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At times she would dress in men's clothing, which attracted attention.
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Officially separated from her husband, she was known for her many romantic liaisons with prominent men.
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At first Chopin showed little interested in Sand, but over time, they grew close.
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By 1838, rumors about their romance swirled through the social circles of Paris.
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Chopin had been sickly since childhood due to a lung condition that often saw him coughing up blood.
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To escape the scandalous rumors and expose Chopin to some Mediterranean sunshine,
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Sand planned a madcap adventure to Majorca in the winter of 1838 to 39 with Chopin and her two children.
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12m 55s
I feel so sorry for him,
always coughing up blood. -
12m 59s
Today, he could be healed,
but in those days, there was no cure. -
13m 05s
It must have been so painful. I have also
experienced difficult times, so I do understand. -
13m 15s
Fuzjko will be performing two concerts in Mallorca.
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13m 24s
Her first will be held at the Superior Conservatory of Music of the Balearic Islands.
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13m 40s
Three days since leaving her home in Paris...
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13m 43s
Fuzjko is impatient to touch the keys of the piano.
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14m 19s
After a concert in Germany, she returned briefly to Paris,
before leaving for Mallorca. -
14m 30s
She's exhausted, affecting her left ear,
which normally only has 30% hearing. -
15m 00s
It's difficult as my hearing is poor.
I can't make out the softer sounds at all. -
15m 10s
What day is it?
- 29th. No, it's the 27th. -
15m 14s
Today's the 27th.
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15m 16s
No, what time is it?
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15m 18s
From what time?
- No, what time is it now? -
15m 20s
It's 1:49 pm.
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15m 23s
It's 1:49 now.
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15m 27s
What time did I start?
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15m 30s
12:30.
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15m 35s
I'm tired.
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15m 41s
I haven't played La Campanella yet.
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15m 57s
The program includes works
by Chopin, Liszt and Schubert. -
16m 03s
Fuzjko always pushes herself
to deliver an excellent performance. -
16m 11s
Fuzjko practiced for an hour and a half.
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16m 18s
I'd like to stop here for today.
I'm tired. -
16m 23s
And there is tomorrow...
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Is this the concert hall?
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16m 29s
This is nice!
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16m 36s
In 1927, Fuzjko's mother, Toako was in Berlin studying piano.
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She met and married Swedish designer, Gösta Georgii-Hemming in 1931.
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They were soon blessed with their first child, Fuzjko.
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And in 1932, the family moved to Japan.
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Recognizing that Fuzjko had all the hallmarks of a child prodigy,
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her mother chose to strictly supervise her musical training.
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In 1938, Gösta turned his back on Japan, feeling ostracized as a foreigner amongst other things.
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17m 26s
He returned to Sweden, leaving his family behind.
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17m 33s
Fuzjko's mother supported the family by teaching the piano.
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17m 46s
Fuzjko most loved listening to her mother play Chopin.
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17m 52s
My mother would put us to bed.
And then, after eight, she would play the piano. -
18m 01s
It was our lullaby and
I still remember how lovely it was. -
18m 06s
She always played Chopin.
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18m 09s
I think it was his Nocturne.
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18m 12s
And while playing,
I think she thought about her children. -
18m 20s
When Fujiko turned 16, she developed an ear infection and lost hearing in her right ear.
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18m 27s
This proved to be beyond emotionally painful.
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18m 36s
Despite this, Fuzjko continued with the piano, relying on her left ear.
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18m 42s
She attended Tokyo University of the Arts,
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18m 45s
and at the age of 21, won an award at a prestigious Japanese music competition.
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18m 54s
Fuzjko's dream was to study where her mother had... in Germany.
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19m 05s
But when Fuzjko applied to study in what had become West Germany, she ran into an unexpected obstacle.
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19m 13s
Legally, she was neither Japanese, nor a citizen of Sweden, her father's native land.
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19m 19s
In the post-war chaos, she had not chosen a nationality
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19m 23s
and discovered that she was, in fact, a woman without a country.
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19m 30s
I was in a very difficult situation
as I was not allowed to leave Japan. -
19m 36s
Luckily the West German ambassador was
a huge fan of mine... -
19m 42s
so he took care of everything.
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19m 45s
Because of him, I was able to
acquire a Red Cross refugee passport... -
19m 52s
and finally make my way to West Germany.
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19m 58s
At the age of 29, Fuzjko moved to West Berlin in 1961.
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20m 09s
Pursuing new opportunities, Fuzjko moved to Vienna.
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20m 13s
And in 1969, eight years after leaving Japan, she finally got lucky.
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She had caught the attention of the legendary conductor, Leonard Bernstein...
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He arranged for her to give a piano recital in Vienna.
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20m 35s
Posters were up all over the city.
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20m 38s
And then, once again, tragedy struck.
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20m 42s
Just before the performance, Fuzjko came down with a ferocious fever.
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20m 47s
Her left ear, which still had hearing, suffered damage...
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20m 52s
The concert had to be canceled.
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21m 00s
After that, no more big chances came Fuzjko's way.
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And she had to resort to earning a living as a piano teacher.
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21m 15s
In 1995, the death of her mother brought Fuzjko back to Tokyo.
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She had been living in Europe for 34 years.
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Four years later, a documentary featuring Fuzjko and the challenges she endured was aired on TV... to an overwhelming response.
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21m 53s
Tickets for her next concert sold out in a flash.
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And in her late 60s, Fuzjko found herself to be a rising star.
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22m 21s
Fuzjko is hoping that the Mallorca journey will lead to a deeper understanding of Chopin's life.
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In 1830, at the age of 20, Chopin left his native Poland in pursuit of success.
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22m 45s
After that, he was never able to return.
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1830 saw the beginning of a civil uprising in Warsaw.
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22m 56s
At the time Poland was ruled by Russia.
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22m 59s
Young Polish men decided to fight for independence, launching a revolutionary movement.
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23m 06s
But, the Imperial Russian Army eventually crushed the uprising in 1831.
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23m 15s
Poles living abroad, including Chopin, could not face returning to their homeland...
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23m 22s
virtually becoming political exiles.
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23m 26s
I didn't know that Chopin couldn't return.
I hadn't thought about that before. -
23m 37s
Fuzjko also experienced being stateless.
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23m 41s
From her twenties to her sixties, she lived alone in Europe.
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23m 51s
Where is my homeland?
I don't know where my homeland is. -
23m 58s
It's not Japan, it's not Sweden
and it's not Germany. -
24m 02s
I like them all.
I would never attack them. -
24m 07s
That would be ridiculous.
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24m 14s
Fuzjko gives a concert in Ukraine every year.
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24m 23s
The hall in Chernihiv where Fujiko performed in 2019
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24m 27s
apparently has suffered damage in the Russian invasion.
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24m 35s
She is also concerned about the concert hall in Lviv,
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24m 39s
as no one has been able to reach its staff members.
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24m 48s
Fuzjko is helping the Ukrainian people however she can.
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24m 54s
I spent all the money from the concert for Ukraine.
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25m 02s
I helped two young persons, a woman and a man,
from Ukraine in my apartment in Berlin. -
25m 13s
Bravo! So they stay in your apartment?
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25m 16s
Maybe they... I don't know... went back. I don't know.
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25m 26s
The day of Fuzjko's first Mallorca concert...
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25m 35s
Tickets are sold out.
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25m 46s
Classical music fans gather to hear an artist whose life has had its twists and turns,
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25m 52s
but is still active in her 90s.
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26m 09s
I pray to Chopin. "Please don't let me
make mistakes, or play in an off way." -
26m 31s
In elementary school, Fuzjko learns to play Chopin.
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26m 38s
Until then she had an aversion to the instrument
due to her mother's strict teaching.
Now she was loving it. -
27m 52s
In her teens she was given special instruction by Leonid Kreutzer,
a highly influential pianist from Berlin. -
28m 01s
She remembers he admired her performance passionately.
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29m 55s
From a young person's perspective,
I appreciate her experience and knowledge. -
30m 00s
She was incredible.
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30m 02s
It was the best!
What a wonderful performance. -
30m 08s
Especially at that age, the agile movements
of those fingers were really wonderful! -
30m 17s
How did it go today?
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30m 20s
I made many mistakes.
But that can't be helped. -
30m 26s
Plus it's hot.
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30m 30s
The audience response was great!
- That's what counts most. -
30m 34s
The audience is number one!
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30m 47s
Chopin and George Sand with her children...
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30m 51s
When they arrived in Palma, the city was full of people fleeing from the mainland due to the Spanish civil war.
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30m 58s
And they struggled to find lodging.
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31m 07s
Through an introduction by the French consul, they managed to rent a home in the suburbs,
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31m 13s
eight kilometers from the city center.
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31m 19s
It is called, "House of the Wind."
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31m 23s
Fuzjko is on her way there, as part of her journey to "connect with Chopin."
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31m 33s
Gaspar Valero is a historian.
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31m 36s
Estefania Pomar is an artist and the home's owner.
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31m 46s
Son Vent.
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31m 52s
"Son" means "someone's" and is
conventionally followed by a person's name. -
31m 59s
But here, with a bit of humor,
the word 'wind' was incorporated. -
32m 04s
Since it is located on a hill,
Son Bento refers to "the wind's property." -
32m 11s
In 2013, Mr. and Mrs. Pomar bought the abandoned property and spent four years restoring it.
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32m 22s
Chopin had hoped to restore his health in the lush countryside of this warm land.
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32m 28s
But, with the onset of winter, his health deteriorated.
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32m 36s
For a few weeks, things had gone well.
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32m 42s
Then the Mallorcan winter hit.
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32m 47s
And the weakened Chopin could not
find a way to recover his health. -
32m 58s
Chopin consulted with doctors, who suspected he had tuberculosis and was going to die.
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33m 11s
The piano that was supposed to be brought to Mallorca for his composing work did not arrive.
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33m 17s
And then another turn of fate...
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33m 25s
The landlord of the House of the Wind, after hearing of Chopin's illness,
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33m 30s
wrote a letter demanding that Sand and Chopin leave.
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33m 35s
The landlord became alarmed when he heard
about Chopin's tuberculosis diagnosis. -
33m 42s
At the time, the doctors were obliged to
notify the Mallorcan administration. -
33m 49s
In 1820 there had been an epidemic of plague
in two villages, -
33m 57s
and in 1821 there was a yellow fever epidemic.
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34m 03s
Many people living in Palma died
during that time. -
34m 07s
The medical policy mandated
the burning of furniture... -
34m 15s
and the avoidance of contact with
anyone diagnosed with a disease... -
34m 22s
as part of preventive and sanitary measures.
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34m 29s
On December 10, 1838, Chopin and Sand were forced out of the "House of the Wind."
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34m 41s
A letter dated December 3, 1838 was written by Chopin from the House of the Wind to Fontana,
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34m 48s
a Polish friend living in Paris.
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34m 52s
I have not been able to send you the manuscripts.
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34m 56s
Despite a heat of 18 degrees Celsius, I caught a bad cold.
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35m 03s
The three most celebrated doctors of the island met for a consultation.
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35m 07s
The first said that I would die.
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35m 10s
The second that I was dying.
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35m 12s
The third that I was already dead.
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35m 15s
And yet I live as I used to live in the past.
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35m 21s
After a few days I shall be living in the loveliest spot on earth: sea, mountains... all one could wish.
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35m 29s
We are going to live in an old, ruined, abandoned Carthusian monastery.
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35m 35s
Tell nobody that I have been ill; it could only encourage gossip.
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35m 47s
The village of Valldemossa, 18 kilometers from Parma.
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35m 55s
This is the monastery where Chopin and George Sand took refuge.
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36m 05s
At that time in Spain, monasteries with fewer than 12 occupants were disbanded,
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36m 11s
and the rooms were rented out to the public.
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36m 18s
When Chopin and Sand arrived reportedly only two or three people were living in this vast monastery.
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36m 31s
This is the place in Mallorca that Fuzjko has most longed to visit.
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36m 42s
She believes that this monastery is where she will be able to feel Chopin the most.
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36m 53s
Vasko arrives in Mallorca to join Fuzjko.
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37m 13s
How is Chopin's place? Do you like?
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37m 15s
- Nice!
- Very nice, ne! -
37m 23s
Fuzjko is gearing up for her second concert the following day at the monastery.
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37m 28s
Vasko, who arranged this, is taking her to inspect the space, along with pianist Miquel Estelrich.
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37m 39s
This is a sacred pilgrimage place
for pianists. -
37m 50s
This monastery has been hosting the Chopin Festival since 1931.
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38m 02s
The place that has hosted numerous world-famous pianists will be the venue for Fuzjko's concert.
-
38m 10s
I feel that the atmosphere of
this Carthusian monastery... -
38m 17s
deeply influenced Chopin's work.
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38m 24s
Though the piano had been held up at the port,
-
38m 27s
George Sand somehow managed to get it delivered to a very anxious Chopin.
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38m 37s
The monastery was a place isolated from the world with no unbidden guests.
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38m 43s
The solitude allowed Chopin to listen to what was in his heart,
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38m 46s
enabling him to complete several significant pieces there.
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39m 04s
Ballad No. 2. Chopin's reflections on Poland.
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39m 22s
A beautiful serene melody suddenly
turns violent and stormy. -
39m 33s
Chopin was aware of the "ballads" by Polish poets.
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39m 45s
Polish literature's ballads depict the world view of
oppressed people based on folklore. -
40m 02s
While composing at the monastery, Chopin completed this piece,
replacing the words of the Polish poets with the poetry of music. -
40m 27s
George Sand later wrote about her life in Mallorca with Chopin.
-
40m 34s
On one occasion, she had taken the children shopping in Palma, leaving the ailing Chopin alone.
-
40m 46s
On the way back, there was a torrential downpour, creating a flood.
-
40m 50s
The driver of the carriage abandoned them.
-
41m 01s
When Sand returned to the monastery late that night,
-
41m 05s
what caught her eye was the figure of Chopin playing a beautiful prelude with tears streaming down his face.
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41m 17s
When he saw us come in, he shot up and with a loud scream said, "Oh, I was certain you were dead!"
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41m 34s
But then he confessed that while waiting for us he had seen all this in a dream,
-
41m 42s
and that, not distinguishing this dream from reality, he calmed down.
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41m 51s
And as if dozing while playing the piano, he became convinced that he himself had died.
-
42m 03s
On February 11, 1839, three months after Chopin and Sand arrived in Mallorca, they returned to France.
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42m 13s
Locals had not been entirely welcoming... and there was Chopin's unfortunate medical condition.
-
42m 29s
Sand continued to support Chopin before their separation eight years later.
-
42m 39s
The poet-pianist passed away in 1849.
-
42m 44s
He was 39.
-
42m 49s
It's as if this trip has allowed me to
experience the sadness that Chopin experienced. -
42m 59s
He was not exactly a happy person,
and I can feel the depth of his pain and sorrow. -
43m 10s
I'm not so gifted with words
and can't articulate my feelings well. -
43m 31s
Three hours before the concert...
-
43m 37s
During times of illness and loneliness, Chopin was always at his piano.
-
43m 44s
Fuzjko is facing her waning years.
-
43m 47s
She seats herself at the piano, practicing with all she has, so she can deliver her best.
-
43m 59s
The monastery where Chopin spent time and composed masterpieces...
-
45m 44s
I play now Chopin.
-
46m 07s
The song Fuzjko's mother played
for her when she was small. -
46m 45s
Even though Fuzjko is not visible,
the audience listens with rapt attention. -
47m 09s
Fujiko plays Etude "Revolutionary," which Chopin composed in 1831,
at the same time of Russia's invasion of Warsaw. -
48m 34s
I did my best, praying to God,
"Please don't let me make a mistake." -
48m 39s
I made fewer mistakes than at the last one.
-
48m 43s
How was it playing in Chopin's place?
-
48m 46s
It was amazing!
I don't have the words to express it. -
48m 52s
It was unbelievable!