Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt "Madame Pylinska and the Secret of Chopin"

Madame Pylinska and the Secret of Chopin

Madame Pylinska, as prickly as a blackthorn bush, imposes an eccentric method of learning the piano: lie under the instrument, draw circles on the water, listen to silence, make love slowly…

Lesson by lesson, from bewilderment to wonder, young Éric learns not only about music but about life itself. It is a poignant and funny story, with snobbish cats, music-loving spiders and a beloved aunt, and all of it is filled with the melodies of Chopin.

After a triumphant tour with Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran, which Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt performed for four years (more than 200 performances across France, Canada, the USA, Lebanon and Italy), he returns to the stage. In this witty, autobiographical one-man show, he brings a host of vivid characters to life, accompanied by the world-renowned pianist Nicolas Stavy. Schmitt explores Chopin's music, drawing on both his best-known works and his rarer pieces.

This enlightening and deeply personal coming-of-age story continues the journey Schmitt began in his international bestseller My Life with Mozart. In it, the great composers are not just creators of music but spiritual guides who help us live.

In this performance, the author takes the stage himself, bringing music and theatre together. Nicolas Stavy, a prizewinner at the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, performs Chopin's works and becomes a full partner in this captivating story.