Variations Sur Un Theme De Chopin

COLLEEN ATHPARIA is an internationally recognized pianist, both as a solo and chamber musician, and as a recording artist with 6 solo and 3 chamber CD recordings.
She has toured as a performer and guest instructor from Mexico to Russia, Morocco to the Far East. Her background includes a Master of Music degree with distinction from Indiana University, as well as receiving the gold medal and placing first in the Canadian Music Competition.
A dedicated teacher on Mount Royal University Conservatory Faculty in Calgary, Canada, many of her students have won national and international competitions and two have been listed in the CBC’s Hot Top 30 classical musicians in Canada under 30 this year. She also continues to be a Senior Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music since 1980 and an active adjudicator.

Often a guest on CBC radio, Colleen has been heralded by the National Post as one of the top four Canadian pianists of contemporary music today. In 2009 she was among the Top 50 Canadian performers honoured in Ottawa for their significant contribution to the Canadian Music Scene over the past 50 years.

The inspiration for this recording began with the discovery of CLARA SCHUMANN's exquisite music and amazing life-story. Touring Europe and Russia as a concert pianist, she was renowned for her integrity and utmost simplicity of playing style. Her life was full of self-giving devotion promoting her husband Robert's music, continuing to compose herself, raising seven children and meanwhile emotionally supporting her husband through his progressive mental illness until his early death. Despite this hardship she could not give up performing and said "As long as I have the strength, I feel a calling. The practice of art is a great part of my inner self- it is the very air I breathe." Clara Schumann will go down in history as the towering female giant of 19th century music coupled with her utmost nurturing instinct. For many years I have had the dream of someday reflecting my soul through her music. This is the fruit of my longing.


REVIEWS

"The artist has talent and musicality and plays with feeling."
Times of India, Bombay

"Colleen Athparia romped through her Liszt with apparent ease and relish, but she also showed, in the 2nd movement of the 'Pathetique' (Beethoven), that she could deal with the kind
of difficulty Schnabel had in mind."

The Sunday Observer, Bombay


"The pianist played this (Mozart Sonata) with great sensitivity…"
The Statesman, Calcutta

"Pianist Colleen Athparia a major exponent of contemporary Canadian music, gives a clear
and compelling performance.

International Alliance for
Woman in Music, Vol.2.
“…congratulate you on a splendid performance – brilliantly pianistic and musically rewarding.” (CBC Producers)

“These were performances of some distinction.” (Calgary Herald)

" Ms. Athparia's sympathies clearly lay with the Romantics and the Impressionists. Dynamic shading and contrasts created the passionate-contemplative atmosphere." The Sunday Observer, Mumbai, INDIA

“Athparia approaches all the works with an enlightened sense of sophistication.” Wholenote" Magazine by Tiina Kiik