By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
BATTERY PARK CITY — The Winter Garden at the World Financial Center will be filled with music this week as dozens of pianists gather to honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Frederic Chopin.
The event features more than 40 concert pianists playing 200 hours of the legendary composer's work on pianos placed throughout the center’s atrium. The program started on Monday and runs through Friday, from noon to 7 p.m. each day.
“This is presenting music in an untraditional environment," said event organizer Jim Luce. "It’s taking music to the people.”
The music is played on top-of-the-line pianos such as the Sauter, a 100-year-old Steinway and the more modern Fazioli.
The Winter Garden’s unique, bi-level theater required spacing the pianos out so the sounds wouldn’t clash.
“Having Chopin played here is where it should be," Luce said. "You can hear the sound projecting through the hum of the people.”
For pianist Miori Sugiyama, playing so close to the World Trade Center site proved emotional. She had previously given up on the instrument after questioning her abilities, but returned when the September 11 attacks made her more appreciative of life.
“I cried when I watched the 9/11 tragedy on TV," she said. "You never know what can happen in life, and you should do what you love."
Frederic Chopin was born on March 1, 1810, and died at just 39 of tuberculosis. He is credited with major innovations in piano composition and was considered a virtuoso of Romantic music.
“There are wonderful people working here," said pianist Eduardus Halim, who played the final piece on opening night. "They have a lot of stress, so if we can help them relax, then that is fantastic.”
Rising star Kimball Gallagher, who studied at the Julliard School, will be playing on the concert stage later this week and helped recruit the talent.
“It’s amazing to celebrate Chopin on this large of a scale," he said. "His heroism kind of attracts people that way.”
