Thishourlongdocumentary,directedbyBAFTAandEmmyawardwinningdirectorJamesKent,meetsJapaneseteenagerMomokaandScottishmusicstudentPaulMurraytoexplorehowChopin’sextraordinaryBalladeNumber1transformsthelivesofordinarypeopleandillustrateshowclassicalmusicstillpenetratescontemporarylifeinunexpectedandpowerfulways
Momoka,isa15yearoldpianistfromSendai,Japan,whosecommunitywasdecimatedbythe2011tsunamiandearthquakesForMomoka,theBalladeembodiestheanguishandrebellionshefeelsbutdoesn'tallowtosurface
For22yearoldPaulfromGlasgow,thepieceislifechangingPaulgrewupinBellshill,aworkingclasssuburbofGlasgowHefirstplayedpianoat15,anditopenedupawholenewworldforhimDuringhisfirsttermstudyingontheBMusHonsdegreeprogrammeattheUniversityofAberdeen,PaulwasdiagnosedwithabraintumourandthenMSwhichbotheventuallycausedhimtolosetheabilitytowalkandtoplaywithhisrighthandWaitinginhishospitalbedinbetweenoperationsoverthreemonths,heplayedtheBalladeagainandagainontheiPodhisdadStephenhadgivenhimItwasthatsinglepiece'semotionalpullthatPaulcreditswiththereturnofhismemory
Paultoldussomemoreabouthisinvolvementintheprogramme:
"IhavebeenforsometimenowtranscribingtheBalladeingminorforthelefthandaloneThereasonbeingIplayedthispiecebackinhighschoolandwiththemedicalcomplicationslosttheabilitytoplayperhapsmyfavouritepieceofalltimeLuckilyformythispiecewasgoingtobethesubjectofamajordocumentaryandwithmystoryandattachmenttotheBalladeIwasselectedtobeinvolved"
Thefilmincludesinterviewswithsomeoftheworld'sgreatestpianistsincludingStephenHough,LangLangandVladimirAshkenazyItwasshownonChannel4inAugustandtrailerscanstillbeviewedonYouTube:
Thedocumentarywasawarded2ndplaceinthe'Halo'BestArtsDocumentaryawardcategoryattheawardsceremonyonMonday,4November2013attheQueenElizabethHallatLondon’sSouthbankCentreTheceremonywasfilmedandshownonSkyAtlantic
